Differential Psychology explores the ways in which people differ from one another, alongside their measurement, causes and consequences. World leading work in Edinburgh focuses on a broad range of topics, including lifelong personality development, measurement and links with important life outcomes; cognitive abilities (intelligence) alongside their change (including ageing) and links with life outcomes; psychopathology; primate psychology; and positive psychology.Research is published in prestigious journals, often in collaboration with graduate students.The work involves a wide range of techniques, including reanalysing data from existing large databases, large-scale data collections, multinational collaborations and advanced statistical modelling. Graduate students can take part in vibrant journal clubs and join a large research community with links across many countries.Current research topics of interestMichelle LucianoReading and language skills / dyslexia; behaviour genetics.Rene MottusThe measurement, development and utility of narrow personality traits (personality facets and nuances); personalised personality measurement (experience sampling).Simon Cox Brain's structural connectome with respect to cognitive function, health, and genesW. David HillGenetic analysis of psychological traits using UK Biobank and other data sets: projects could include the use of polygenic risk scores, Mendelian randomisation, GWAS, and rare variant analysis; genetic analysis of socioeconomic status traits using UK Biobank and other data sets: rojects could include the use of polygenic risk scores, Mendelian randomisation, GWAS, and rare variant analysis.Aja MurrayDevelopmental aspects of mental health phenotypes and their comorbidity: in particular, ADHD, autism, and conduct problems; quantitative methodology.Recent/current PhD topics in this areaHuman personality traits: measurement, development, genetic and environmental causes, and real-life consequencesPsychopathology in youth and adults (depression, autism, ADHD, dyslexia)Causes and consequences of intelligencePrimate behaviour and personality traitsPositive psychologyGeneticsAgeingParanormal beliefsPsychometricsContactFor queries about general admissions, please contact the Postgraduate Office.pplspgoffice@ed.ac.ukTo discuss academic matters, contact the Programme Director, Rene Mottus.Rene MottusFind out more Fees, funding, and how to apply This article was published on 2024-10-14