Research Associate (Kornysheva Lab RA 2)

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £32,296 to £34,866 with potential progression once in post to £39,105. Grade: 6

Hours: Part Time (18.75 working hours per week)

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to 4 years

We are seeking a part-time (0.5 FTE) postgraduate research associate (RA) to join the Skilled Action and Memory lab (https://sites.google.com/site/kkornysheva), led by Katja Kornysheva, Associate Professor at the Centre for Human Brain Health and the School of Psychology, University of Birmingham. This position is part of a project funded by a UKRI Future Leadership Fellowship award (£2.2M), “Dissecting the Neural Code for Skilled Action Planning and Coordination” for 4 years, with a grant extension of up to 3 years pending UKRI approval.

The lab studies the neural control of skilled movements and aims to develop non-invasive neurotechnology to assist and improve movement control in individuals with movement disorders. This research project will be conducted in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of postdocs, research associates, and PhD students, as well as external collaborators at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Imperial College London and University of Oxford, with a generous travel budget for research visits, training and conferences.

This 4-year part-time RA position is available from 1st December 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter. Salary will be at grade 6. Staff are eligible for the PhD staff fee concession to enrol in a PhD under the supervision of Katja Kornysheva and a second academic supervisor at the University of Birmingham during the time of employment. https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/student/academic-support/registry/pgr/staff-fee-concession.aspx.

This tech-focussed RA scientist will assist the setup and implementation of experiments on the neural basis of planning and executing skilled movement sequences.

Main duties

• Assist with the setup and implementation of experiments
• Undertake local operator training for neuroimaging equipment and assist other lab members in acquiring similar skills
• Operate equipment (e.g., MRI, MEG, EEG) at the Centre for Human Brain Health (CHBH) to aid in data acquisition.
• Support the setup of peripheral equipment for experiments
• Assist with data analysis and reporting
• Provide technical support by writing code in programming languages (e.g., MatLab, R, Python) for experimental setup, data analysis, and troubleshooting
• Assist with code and data sharing

Person specification

• BSc and MSc in neuroscience, electrical engineering, computer science, robotics, or a related discipline
• Strong quantitative skills, including proficiency in programming languages such as Matlab, R, or Python
• Proven experience with EEG data collection and analysis
• Capable of acting on one’s own initiative and solving problems autonomously
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• Motivation to contribute to innovative research on neurotechnology and motor control

Application Materials

Please include a copy of your academic CV, as well a maximum 2-page cover letter outlining your motivation for applying for this position and fit to the position’s selection criteria (11-point Arial font, standard, 2.54 cm margins).

Informal enquiries to Katja Kornysheva (k.kornysheva@bham.ac.uk). Please include “FLF RA2” in the subject. 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment.
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 3^rd November 2024

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