Postdoctoral Researcher in Population Neuroimaging Statistics

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic. 

The Department of Psychiatry is based on the Warneford Hospital site in Oxford – a friendly, welcoming place of work with an international reputation for excellence. The Department has a substantial research programme, with major funding from Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome Trust and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and provides highly rated medical training in psychiatry. The Head of Department is Professor Belinda Lennox. 

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to develop statistical and machine learning methods to model changes in the brain over the lifespan, including brain structure and function, and how those changes relate to environment and genomics.

About the Role

The post is funded for 3 years and is based in the Big Data Institute, Old Road Campus, Oxford.

The post is only available as full-time. However, we can discuss flexible working hours (e.g. starting and finishing earlier in the day) to accommodate your needs. Working remotely is possible for up to 1 day/week. 

Reporting to Professor Thomas Nichols, in collaboration with Professor Naomi Wray and Wesley Thompson, you will join an interdisciplinary team spanning statistics, machine learning, genetics, and population health. You will work closely with collaborators at the Nuffield Department of Population Health (NDPH), the Big Data Institute (BDI), the Department of Psychiatry, and Danish researchers associated with the Pioneer Centre for SMARTbiomed. 

There will be opportunities to visit collaborators in Denmark and to contribute to summer schools, doctoral supervision, and software outputs central to the Centre’s mission.

About You

You will have, or be close to completion of, a PhD/DPhil in Statistics, Machine Learning, Data Science, or a related quantitative discipline.

You will demonstrate strong specialist knowledge in statistical and machine learning methods, particularly for high-dimensional or longitudinal data. Demonstrable experience in research software development using R or Python and a track record of contributing to publications and presentations in leading statistics or machine learning journals and conferences are essential. 

Experience with brain imaging data, large-scale population datasets, longitudinal biomedical modelling, or collaboration with clinical and genetics partners would be desirable.

Diversity

Committed to equality and valuing diversity

Our active Psychiatry People and Culture teams and initiatives including our values and behaviours framework, work to make the Department of Psychiatry as supportive, welcoming and inclusive as possible.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application. see the University pages on the application process at https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/application-process

The closing date for applications is 12:00 midday on 25 March 2026

It is anticipated that interviews will take place during week commencing 7 April

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