Postdoctoral Research Fellow

About us

UCL's Department of Experimental Psychology is a world-leading centre for psychological science. The Reflexion Lab, led by Dr Megan Peters, investigates metacognition, subjective experience, and consciousness using psychophysics, neuroimaging, and formal computational modelling. We sit at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, philosophy of mind, and artificial intelligence, working on some of the most important and contested questions in science today.

About the role

We are seeking a postdoctoral research fellow to develop a belief updating framework formalising how evidence of consciousness established using behavioural, neural, or computational methods within a consensus population can be rationally licensed to extend to other populations like animals or artificial intelligence based on their proximity to the consensus cases. The postholder will draw upon Bayesian belief updating and latent variable modelling analysis approaches, including developing both formal mathematical approaches and simulation-based toy model assessments. A PhD in cognitive/computational neuroscience, philosophy of mind, or a closely related field is required, along with strong grounding in probability and Bayesian inference and programming experience.

About you

The successful candidate will have a strong background in formal or computational approaches to cognition or consciousness, comfort working across disciplinary boundaries, and demonstrable programming ability. They will work independently toward publication-ready outputs while engaging actively with the lab and broader research community. Candidates with experience in Bayesian modelling, latent-variable methods, or AI/consciousness research are particularly encouraged to apply.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Athena Swan Status Statement

• Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/

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