Research Associate

12970BR

School of Psychology

Research

Advert

Research Associate

We are seeking to recruit a bright and motivated Postdoctoral Researcher for an exciting new project studying the neural mechanisms of how curiosity-based exploration affects hippocampus-dependent memory using functional MRI (3T and/or 7T fMRI). The project is funded via a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship from Wellcome and the Royal Society. 

The successful candidate will have excellent programming skills and knowledge of advanced neuroimaging analysis methods in order to study the neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory consolidation (e.g., resting-state or task-based functional connectivity analysis and/or multivariate pattern analysis). You will mainly develop new experimental approaches to study how curiosity-based exploration affects hippocampus-dependent memory but you will also have the opportunity to analyse previously collected fMRI data on curiosity-based learning (using 3T and 7T MRI). 

The post will be for 2 years and the successful candidate will work closely with Dr Matthias Gruber at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) being part of the School of Psychology. Across CUBRIC and the School of Psychology at Cardiff University, we have many world-leading research groups that study learning and memory processes, and our group actively collaborates with such groups at Cardiff University and other researchers worldwide. Therefore, the successful candidate will benefit from an inspiring research environment with ample opportunity for interdisciplinary exchange.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Matthias Gruber, [email protected] 

This post is full time and fixed term. The post is available to start immediately. Note that funding for this position will end by 31/01/2024. Therefore, the position will have a shorter duration if the position starts after 01/02/2022.

Salary  £34,304 - £40,927 per annum (Grade 6).

Date advert posted: Monday, 29 November 2021

Closing Date: Monday, 27 December 2021

This post has previously been advertised to employees of Cardiff University only.  We now invite external applications.

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

“Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/our-research-environment/integrity-and-ethics/responsible-research-assessment”

Job Description

Main function

The objectives of this 2-year postdoctoral research project are to investigate the effects of curiosity-related exploration on hippocampus-dependent memory via high-resolution functional MRI (3T and/or 7T MRI). The successful candidate will work as part of the Motivation and Memory Lab (group leader: Dr Matthias Gruber) at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) which hosts state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities within a multidisciplinary and dynamic community.

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

Research
•    To undertake new research projects using functional MRI (3T and/or 7T) to investigate how curiosity-related exploration affects hippocampus-dependent learning and memory in healthy participants (i.e., planning, designing, setting up, conducting neuroimaging experiments, analysing and interpreting the data).

•    Analyse previously collected data sets on how curiosity affects hippocampus-dependent memory encoding and memory consolidation (using 7T fMRI). 

•    Actively participate within the research group, communicating and presenting research at international meetings, through publications and other recognised avenues as appropriate, ensuring information is communicated to internal and external partners

•    To contribute to research publications and presentations

•    To analyse and communicate complex ideas, concepts and data using appropriate methods and packages 

•    To resolve issues and support senior colleagues in devising procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting

•    To generate research output and contribute to the development of independent and original ideas as appropriate

•    To provide support and guidance to junior members of staff within the research team

•    To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field

•    To prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate

•    To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects

Other
•    To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
•    Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education
1.    Postgraduate degree at PhD level in Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, or related subject area

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2.    An established expertise in functional MRI (data collection and analyses) proven by publications

3.    Excellent knowledge of current status of research in specialist field (e.g., learning and memory, curiosity, reward, exploration and other areas of relevance to the successful delivery of the project)

4.    Excellent programming skills (e.g., Matlab, Python, R, and/or virtual reality software package)

5.    Proven ability to publish in international journals

Communication and Team Working
6.    Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication

7.    Strong interpersonal skills, including a proven ability to work cooperatively within a team of researchers and students across institutions nationally and/or internationally

Other
8.    Proven ability to demonstrate creativity in designing new experiments and advanced analysis methods

9.    Strong interest in the neural mechanisms underlying curiosity, exploration, and memory.

Desirable Criteria 

10.    Proven ability to work without close supervision

11.     Experience with running experiments using virtual reality 

12.    Proven ability to be successful in competitive research funding 

13.    Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School of Psychology

14.  Experience with high-resolution functional MRI investigating hippocampal subfields at 3T or 7T MRI 

Additional Information

Evidencing Criteria - It is School of Psychology’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure when submitting this document/attaching it to your application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number.
If candidates do not provide written evidence of meeting all the essential criteria then their application will not be progressed.

General Information

The School of Psychology with over 50 academic staff, over 600 undergraduates and 150 postgraduate students is one of the largest and most successful in the UK (http://www.cf.ac.uk/psych/).  We are recognised internationally for sustained excellence in research, impact and research-led teaching. Many individuals in the School are leading figures in their research areas. In the last Research Excellence Framework we entered as a unit of over 80 staff with our colleagues in Psychological medicine. We were placed 2nd in our topic area across the UK. We have state of the art laboratories and experimental expertise across the range of psychology. In particular, CUBRIC opened in Spring 2016, housing a unique combination of facilities and expertise that will further its world-leading research in Neuroimaging, Cognitive Neuroscience and Biological Psychiatry. CUBRIC is currently one of the largest and best equipped imaging centres in Europe housing 3T MRI, 7T MRI, and Connectome MRI scanners, MEG, EEG, Sleep Labs, and Behavioural Testing Labs.

Cardiff is the youngest capital city in Europe and the fastest growing in the UK. It plays host to many national and international sporting events at the Millennium Stadium (http://www.millenniumstadium.com/). Culturally, the city is thriving, with the Wales Millennium Centre (http://www.wmc.org.uk/) in Cardiff Bay. Cardiff is in very close proximity to the beautiful Welsh countryside (http://www.breconbeacons.org/) and stunning beaches
(https://www.gowerholidays.com/attractions-activities-in-gower-swansea/beaches/), has a two hour rail link to London and a one hour air link to Paris and Amsterdam (http://www.cardiffairportonline.com/).

Job Category

Academic - Research