Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job description

We are seeking a postdoctoral research associate to work on a Wellcome-funded project investigating the neural and computational processes underpinning pathological worry.

In this role, you will work within the lab of Dr Toby Wise in the Department of Neuroimaging and will run studies assessing how people plan to avoid danger, alongside studies exploring how this behaviour relates to worry. You will have the opportunity to use a variety of methods, including fMRI, EEG and neurostimulation, in addition to computational modelling of behavioural data. Experience is not required in all of these areas, but a desire to learn and develop new skills is important. There will also be flexibility for you to develop and pursue your own research ideas within the lab.

As part of this role, you will be given time and financial support to engage in activities related to your career development, such as conferences and training courses. You will also have the opportunity to supervise and train undergraduate and postgraduate students.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Toby Wise: toby.wise@kcl.ac.uk

Key responsibilities

•         Designing behavioural tasks to assess decision-making

•         Collection of behavioural and neuroimaging data

•         Designing and implementing computational models of behaviour

•         Performing data analysis and writing up results for publication

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria

1.       PhD (or PhD near completion) in Psychology, Neuroscience, Computer Science or a related field

2.       Proficiency in Python, R, Matlab, Julia, or another relevant language.

3.       Familiarity (but not necessarily experience) with fMRI and/or EEG

Desirable criteria

1.       Expertise in computational modelling of behavioural data

2.       Experience with neuroimaging

3.       Experience in mental health research

4.       Experience with machine learning

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information

For applicants who require a visa to work in the UK, associated costs can be covered for the applicant and family members.