Developmental effects of talk about mental states in early childhood education and care

The PhD opportunity is part of an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship that aims to understand how Early Childhood Education and Care programs can improve the life chances of Australia’s most developmentally vulnerable children. This project specifically looks at educators' use of mental state language (talk about emotions, thoughts, and desires) in promoting children’s social and emotional development and behavioural regulation. The project is embedded within a large longitudinal study.

 This project is within the Thorpe Lab, Queensland Brain Institute, UQ. The lab is led by Laureate Professor Karen Thorpe and is a vibrant multidisciplinary team of 28 people all focused on optimising children’s early experiences at a formative time in brain development. This PhD is embedded within a large longitudinal study of 600 children attending Early education and Care services located in developmentally vulnerable communities.  The three academic supervisors cover disciplines of speech therapy, psychology and early education.

The successful candidate will be enrolled as a student in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families across the Life Course - providing access to funding opportunities and career development. A top-up is provided through Professor Thorpe’s funding form this centre.

A key feature of a PhD in the Thorpe Lab is the opportunity to engage with academic and industry-focused researchers and projects that will inform policy and practice in the real-world.  All students have an industry advisor as part of their research program.

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of developmental psychology, early education and/or children’s early language development, and experience in working with families and children would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of Psychology, education, language development and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of social inequity, and early childhood education/childcare is highly desirable.

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Dr Aisling Mulvihill (a.mulvihill@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 3 April, 2025 3 April, 2025.

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter CHILDHOOD-MULVIHILL.

Apply now