PhD Studentship: Understanding how GLP-1 (Ozempic-type) medications may shape everyday social and economic decisions

Overview

This PhD project at the University of Exeter, hosted by the Department of Economics in the University of Exeter Business School, investigates how GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro (semaglutide and tirzepatide) affect everyday social and economic decisions. These drugs were first developed for diabetes and are now increasingly prescribed for weight loss, with millions of users. Because they act on the brain's reward system, they may change how patient, risk-taking, cooperative or competitive people are, with consequences for work, money and society.

The project brings together economics, psychology and health science to study this question for the first time. The student will build skills in behavioural experiments, data science and health research, working through meta-analysis, online experiments and related methods.

What you get

The project is one of up to 18 MRC-funded studentships offered through the GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Programme, with a start date of October 2027. The studentships last four years. Funding covers UK tuition fees and a doctoral stipend matching the UK Research Council national minimum, which is 21,805 pounds per year for 2026/27 and is updated annually. Up to 5,000 pounds per year is also available for research training and support costs.

Who can apply

The studentships are open to UK and international students. This project competes for a place with projects across the whole MRC GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Award, in which 18 studentships are available across the partnership.

Key dates

The closing date is 21 October 2026, and the studentship begins in October 2027.