Postdoctoral Research Associate in Music Psychology

Role Description
We are seeking to appoint an outstanding Postdoctoral Research Associate for a fixed-term period of five years (0.8 FTE) to join the ERC Synergy Project REM@KE (Reconstructing Embodied Musical Knowledge at the Keyboard) at the University of York. Based in York, the successful candidate will shape and deliver an ambitious interdisciplinary research programme spanning music cognition, psychology, historically informed performance, organology, and musicology. Working under the mentorship of Dr Andrea Schiavio, the postholder will conduct high-quality collaborative research, manage all datasets and repositories, contribute to the design and delivery of experimental studies, and support the dissemination of findings through publications, conferences, public engagement activities, and other appropriate outputs in collaboration with colleagues across three hubs (York, Gothenburg, and Pavia).

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The University of York is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and to creating a working environment in which all staff can thrive. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in academia. Flexible working arrangements will be considered, and reasonable adjustments will be made throughout the recruitment process and employment.

Department
The School of Arts & Creative Technology aims to lead nationally and internationally in teaching, research and external engagement across a wide range of artistic and technological domains. Our approach to music, theatre, film, television, games and immersive-interactive experiences blends theory with practice, academic excellence with vocational relevance, and creativity with technological innovation. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies (such as job sharing), flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums, campus facilities and services to support staff from different backgrounds.

Role
The role involves designing and conducting experimental studies (in person and remotely) examining how performers, educators, students, concert-goers, and instrument builders engage with historical keyboard instruments and their replicas. The postholder will apply and develop quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate embodied, perceptual, and experiential aspects of musical engagement, integrating behavioural, self-report, and observational data.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications Needed
The postholder will hold a PhD (or equivalent research experience) in Music, Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Statistics, or a closely related discipline. They will bring excellent knowledge of experimental psychology, psychometrics, and music cognition, with a strong understanding of embodied cognition, organology, and historically informed keyboard performance. The role requires strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage multiple strands of work and take responsibility for planning research activities, including organising conferences and planned events.

Interview date: 27 April 2026

For informal enquiries: please contact Dr Andrea Schiavio (andrea.schiavio@york.ac.uk).

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas. It may not be possible to offer Skilled Worker sponsorship for this role.

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

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