Applications are invited for two Research Fellow vacancies in the Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, under the supervision of Professor Ray Dolan. The Centre is dedicated to studying the causes of psychiatric disorders and individual differences in cognitive development. Computational models of differences and changes in brain-behaviour relations are the Centre's major theoretical tool, and its findings will provide information on how cognitive functioning can be maintained into old age and on how psychiatric disorders can be better recognized and treated more efficiently.
The post holders will undertake high quality research in the context of a Wellcome Trust-funded research project "Motivation in Health and Disease" and Computational Psychiatry project funded by the Max Planck Society to address cognitive computational control mechanisms of motivational behaviour. A particular focus will be applying computational models, especially reinforcement learning models (RL) to behavioural and neuroimaging studies that address key questions related to motivation and planning. Because of the nature of the work, a DBS check will be required.
Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent in computer science, behavioural neuroscience, psychology, computational neuroscience, or similar, and experience with computational modelling of behavioural data and/or human neuroimaging, acquiring and analysing fMRI, MEG or EEG data, and programming (primarily Matlab, though skills in R and Java are desirable). Experience of supervising or co-supervising students and of obtaining research funding is essential. Excellent oral and written communication and good inter-personal skills, and a high level of consideration and care for research subjects, are also required.
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Miss E Bertram, HR Manager, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, (email: IoN.HRAdmin@ucl.ac.uk). It would be helpful if applicants could provide a telephone number that they can be contacted on during office hours. Applicants may contact Professor Ray Dolan directly (email: r.dolan@ucl.ac.uk) for further information.
