Research Fellow - School of Psychology

Position Details

School or Psychology

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £30,942 to £40,322, with potential progression once in post to £42,792

Grade 7

Full Time FTC up to 6 months

Closing date 5 January 2021

Background

To create and contribute to the design and analysis of an fMRI study using foraging-based decision-making to probe social behaviour, as part of Wellcome Trust ISSF grant awarded to Dr. Matt Apps

Job Summary

• Design fMRI study on a novel foraging paradigm
• Collect fMRI data
• Undertake computational model-based analyses of behavioural and fMRI data
• Write reports and disseminate research findings.
• Assist lab members in their research activities.

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop experimental paradigms based on foraging theory
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding about social behaviour, interoception and the underlying neural mechanisms.
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to student members of the MSN lab
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods in collaboration with the head of the lab.
• Undertake management/administration of the research project and research ethics
• Contribute to CHBH/School of Psychology research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to public engagement activities of benefit to the College and the University, under supervision of a project leader
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• First degree in Psychology or a related-discipline, and a PhD (or close to completion of a PhD) in social neuroscience
• Prior experience of using Drift-Diffusion models to probe foraging task data
• Familiarity with mixed-model and Canonical Correlation statistical analyses
• Familiarity with programming languages (e.g. MATLAB and R)
• Understanding of the principles of fMRI design based on foraging theory
• Experience undertaking fMRI analyses of decision-making tasks (e.g. in SPM or FSL)
• Significant knowledge of foraging theory, prosocial & moral decision-making as well as an understanding of research on interoception
• Peer-reviewed publications on the topics of prosocial behaviour, interoception and motivation.
• Good research project organisation skills
• Ability to work well with and co-ordinate research with other members of a research team
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Informal enquires to Inderjeet Nagra, email: i.nagra.1@bham.ac.uk

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