PhD Project entitled ‘Understanding vicarious contact effects in interracial encounters’

Applicants are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship at the University of Bristol (with a 2024/2025 entry), jointly supervised by Dr Susanne Quadflieg and Dr. Dr Hélio Clemente José Cuve. The studentship is open to UK-domiciled, home fee applicants of Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black or mixed Black heritage. 

To device effective interventions against racism, social scientists have long tried to understand under which conditions people are willing to embrace racial diversity and justice. According to a novel theory, witnessing positive interracial contact in others may help to reduce racist ideas and/or enhance antiracist behaviour. To date, this so-called vicarious contact hypothesis has attracted widespread media attention, but little empirical investigation. Drawing on contemporary models of person perception and dyad perception, this PhD project aims to study the effectiveness of vicarious interracial contact (VIC) in a systematic manner.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated, and innovative individual with an excellent degree in psychology or a related discipline. The successful candidate will be based at the School of Psychological Science at the University of Bristol. Please direct any queries to Susanne Quadflieg s.quadflieg@bristol.ac.uk

Application deadline: 8 January 2024

For further details of this project and details on how to apply, please see here:
https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/funded-phd-understanding-vicarious-contact-effects-in-interracial-encounters/?p162101

Funding notes: As part of its commitment to the Black community, the University of Bristol has launched a number of PGR research scholarships exclusively for students of Black heritage. These are open to UK-domiciled, home fee applicants of Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black or mixed Black heritage.  The scholarships aim to address the underrepresentation of people racialised as Black in postgraduate research and support the university’s work to improve representation across all levels of study and academia. The university has a wide range of support networks, student societies and community groups for students of Black heritage. If you have any questions on the scheme, you are welcome to contact Dr Stephanie King (Postgraduate Faculty Education Director for Life Sciences) via stephanie.king@bristol.ac.uk.