Research Fellow (Postdoctoral)
University of Birmingham - School of Psychology - Centre for Human Brain Health
Salary: £32,348 to £42,155 full time starting salary range, with potential progression once in post to £44,737, Grade 7
Hours: Full Time
Closes: 22nd March 2023
Contract: Fixed Term contract up to two years with potential extension
We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the Motivation and Social Neuroscience lab (https://www.msn-lab.com) led by Dr. Matthew Apps. The lab studies the cognitive, computational and neurobiological basis of motivation and decision-making in healthy young adults, across the lifespan and in neurological and psychiatric disorders. This post is funded by Fellowships and grants from the BBSRC, ERC, Wellcome Trust and Jacobs Foundation, totalling over £4m.
An initial 2 year postdoctoral position (with possibility of extension) is available from 1st April 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter.
The main focus of this role will be on the design, collection and analysis of novel model-based behavioural, and neuroimaging experiments with the potential for novel neuroimaging methods (e.g. Spinal fMRI or OPM-MEG). In addition, the post holder may also be involved in behavioural, psychopharmacology, and neuroimaging studies involving children, adolescents and older adults. The position is broad and can be in part tailored to the applicants interest, and there is the opportunity to analyse existing data. There will be opportunities to collaborate with colleagues in the University of Oxford (Prof. Masud Husain and Prof. Catherine Harmer), University of California, San Francisco (Dr. Simon Little) and in Berlin (Prof. Radek Cichy).
The successful candidate will be resourceful with the ability to act on their own initiative, excellent quantitative skills including programming (e.g. Matlab, R or Python) for the design and analysis of experiments. Experience of neuroimaging (e.g. fMRI or MEG) is essential and experience of computational modelling, studies with diverse populations (children, adolescents, older adults), and advanced neuroimaging techniques (model-based imaging, MVPA or RSA) is desirable but not necessary.
The work will build on studies such as this:
1. Müller, T., Klein-Flügge, M. C., Manohar, S. G., Husain, M. & Apps, M. A. J. Neural and computational mechanisms of momentary fatigue and persistence in effort-based choice. Nature Communications. 12, 4593 (2021).
2. Lockwood, P. L. … Apps, M.A. Distinct neural representations for prosocial and self-benefiting effort. Current Biology 32, 4172–4185 (2022).
3. Apps, M. A. J., Rushworth, M. F. S. & Chang, S. W. C. The Anterior Cingulate Gyrus and Social Cognition: Tracking the Motivation of Others. Neuron 90, 692–707 (2016).
4. Le Heron, C. et al. Dopamine modulates dynamic decision-making during foraging. Journal of Neuroscience. 40, 5273–5282 (2020).
Main Duties
- Contributing to the design and programming of behavioural and/or neuroimaging experiments
- Running experiments involving behavioural and neuroimaging measures (e.g. fMRI, MEG)
- Recruiting and contacting participants
- Analysing behavioural and brain imaging data using advanced analysis tools (e.g. computational modelling)
- Writing and contributing to manuscripts for research publications, and presenting data
- Work collaboratively with other members of the group, the centre and wider school
- Helping to look after and ordering relevant equipment when required
- Assisting the laboratory head with supervision of student projects and outreach activities
Person Specification
- Have or be close to the completion of a PhD in cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, experimental psychology or a closely related discipline
- Experience in designing/conducting or analysing neuroimaging data (e.g. fMRI and/or MEG)
- Experience in the design, coding and analysis of behavioural experiments
- Strong quantitative and programming skills, and knowledge of one or more relevant programming languages (e.g. Matlab; Python; R)
- Experience of writing and publishing peer reviewed scientific papers or preprints
- Ability to work independently
- Resourcefulness and organisational skills to act on own initiative
- Strong presentation skills including the ability to present research proposals and results, and represent the lab at meetings
For informal enquiries contact Matthew Apps ([log in to unmask])
To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the link below or visit our careers website; https://edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_6001/job/537/?utm_medium=jobshare .
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