MCSA Early Career Researcher/Student

Location: Department of Experimental Psychology, The Life and Mind Building, South Parks Road

Salary:  EU grant €230,118.12 over 36 months

We are seeking an Early-Stage Researcher (ESR) to work on “Active exploration of iridescence and gloss”. The ESR will join the EXPLORA consortium (https://explora-network.github.io/web/index.html), which comprises 12 academic institutions across multiple European countries and the UK, alongside industrial and creative partners. This EU-funded Doctoral Network (DN) provides a rich training environment for early-stage researchers, with regular meetings, workshops and training events across the network.

The post is based at the University of Oxford, Department of Experimental Psychology, UK where you will enrol on the doctoral program (DPhil) joining a dynamic and motivated group of around 12 graduate students and post-doctoral researchers in the Oxford Perception Lab, headed by Prof. Hannah Smithson.

The primary research focus will be to understand the effects of viewing and lighting geometry and surface properties on exploration behaviour and perception. We will capture and analyse explorative behaviour of human participants while they assess colour and gloss of an object.

The post is full time and based in the new Life and Mind Building at the University of Oxford. There is flexibility in the pattern of work, such as the possibility of some working-from-home, but the expectation is that the majority of time is spent in the department, to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition, the ESR is expected to travel to training and networking events that are part of EXPLORA, and to undertake planned secondments within the consortium.

ESRs are first and foremost registered students of the University. They are also employed by the University as workers. The total amount allocated for this fellowship (based on 36 months) under the EC Grant Agreement is €230,118.12. Under the terms of the EC funding, which aims to promote mobility within the research community, to be eligible for the post you must not have been resident in the UK for more than a total of 12 months in the past three years up to the fellowship start date.

To be eligible for this position you must not be in possession of a PhD or have more than 4 years of full-time equivalent research experience as measured from the award date of your first degree.

To be eligible for the DPhil applicants are normally expected to be predicted or to have achieved an upper second class (2:1) undergraduate degree or above (or equivalent international qualifications) in psychology or related discipline. 

The closing date for applications is midday on 12^th March 2026.

Applications are to be made online.  Your application should include a CV and supporting statement, evidence of undergraduate degree, together with the names and contact details of three referees.

Please read the job description for full details of the role and the selection criteria.

Advert information