| Project Supervisor | Katarzyna Kostyrka-Allchorne |
| Institution & Department | Queen Mary University of London – Department of Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences |
| Research Area | RA1: Global Health Innovation |
| Project Start Date | End of June 2026 or July 2026 – flexible start date offered. |
| Project Duration | 3 months |
| Application Deadline | 4th June 2026 |
| Working Pattern | Full-time (5 days per week over 3 months) |
| Working Arrangements | Hybrid |
| The student is expected to spend at least one day/week in the office (Mile End campus). | |
| How to Apply | View Guidance Here |
Project Description
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Digital technology has become central to young people’s daily lives. While many online experiences are positive, concerns are growing about the negative impact of time spent online on daily functioning and youth mental health. In response, policy interventions often focus on reducing or banning access to some online platforms for under-16s. Yet, such restrictive approaches are at odds with the reality of young people’s lives, where digital technology is so crucial to social and educational activities and general logistics. There is also some evidence that young people may be aware of the risks of digital activity and spontaneously attempt to change patterns of digital activity to reduce those risks.
Using data from the longitudinal study on adolescent online risk via DIORA, this project will examine the longitudinal impact of digital activities on adolescent daily functioning (e.g., sleep, relationships, schoolwork), as well as whether spontaneous attempts to manage digital activity (i.e., enhancing positive engagement, coping actions, and/or reducing engagement) can mitigate the risks of poor mental health associated with risky online activity.
This project will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of adolescent agency in managing digital risks and could inform both policy and the development of interventions that strengthen young people’s digital resilience.
Internship Details
The student will be placed within the Cognition and NeuroDevelopment in Youth group (CANDY), which includes around 30 researchers (psychology faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, PhD students and research assistants).
The student’s tasks will involve:
- Depending on their interests, there will also be an opportunity to get involved in a linked project on online risk and resilience in childhood to develop additional skills (e.g., participant recruitment, primary data collection).
- Conducting data analyses using advanced quantitative methods, including mediation and moderation analyses and random intercept cross-lagged panel models, under the supervision of experienced researchers.
- Writing up the results for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Anticipated Benefits for the Student
The student will be embedded in a multi-institutional team (QMUL, King’s College London, LSE and University of Edinburgh), providing an opportunity to develop new academic links and exposure to policy and practice-relevant research.
The student will strengthen their quantitative analysis skills and practical use of R and/or Mplus, as well as critical thinking and communication skills.
The internship will provide an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the current research on online risks and resilience in the context of adolescent mental health.
Skills, Experience and Knowledge Requirements
- Interest in youth mental health and/or online experiences is essential.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- The student should be skilled in organising and processing datasets and should have experience with or be willing to learn R, Stata, or Mplus.
- Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative research team.