Research Fellow

Hours: full time  considered up to a maximum of 1.0  FTE

Requests for flexible working options will be considered (subject to business need).

Contract: fixed term for 36 months

Closing date: 1 May 2023. Applications must be received by midnight of the closing date.

Expected Interview date: To be confirmed

Expected start date: 1 Aug 2023

A BBSRC-funded Research Fellow position is available at The School of Psychology at the University of Sussex. This is a collaborative project between the Koya and Singer Labs, which investigate the neural mechanisms of cue-evoked appetitive behaviours in motivation and reward circuits.

The aim of this project is to investigate the role of neuronal ensembles in the nucleus accumbens in the emergence and suppression of the spontaneous recovery of food seeking. 

Specifically, you will examine the specific neuronal adaptations (synaptic and excitability) and in vivo activity patterns in accumbens neuronal ensembles that drive and suppress spontaneous recovery.

These investigations will be conducted using a combination of tools, such as in vivo fibre photometry and ex vivo electrophysiology (patch-clamp) techniques.

The successful applicant will have:

• A strong background in behavioural or systems neuroscience research.
• A desire to work independently and collegially in a collaborative environment.
• PhD/DPhil degree in neuroscience or a related discipline (e.g. experimental psychology).
• Experience in monitoring rodent brain activity (e.g. in vivo or via Fos immunohistochemistry) or ex vivo electrophysiology in rodents.
• Experience in conducting behavioural experiments in appetitive learning and programming languages, such as Python, are desirable.

The laboratory is part of a vibrant multi-disciplinary ‘Sussex Neuroscience’ research community on campus, consisting of systems, behavioural, molecular, and computational neuroscientists. The University of Sussex campus is located just 10 minutes away from the famous seaside city of Brighton.

Please contact Eisuke Koya (E.Koya@sussex.ac.uk) or Bryan Singer (B.F.Singer@sussex.ac.uk) for informal enquiries. Candidates are encouraged to send their CV’s (with the names of at least two references). 

The University is committed to equality and valuing diversity, and applications are particularly welcomed from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) at Sussex.

“Please note that this position may be subject to ATAS clearance if you require visa sponsorship.”

For full details and how to apply see our vacancies page

The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Please note: The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed from the UK. 

Advert information