Research Fellow (primate cognition)

Full time/ 3 year fixed term position (October 2026 - October 2029)

About the Role

In this role, you will lead the development of cognitive experimental research, in connection with the Leverhulme Trust funded project, ‘The evolutionary origins of mapping social connections’. You will work alongside Dr Jamie Whitehouse, and collaborators Dr Sébastien Ballesta and Prof. Bridget Waller.

"To be successful in a complex social world, understanding the connections between others beyond personal connections is paramount. Individuals differ in their ability to create a mental map of these connections, but why they differ, and what causes this, remains unexplained. We propose that the ability to process facial expressions and thus build an understanding of others’ relationships, is key to explaining these differences. Through a series of cognitive experiments and behavioural studies with non-human primates, we will identify the role of reading faces in the evolution of mentalising maps of social connections."

As Research Fellow, you will use your creativity to design and implement a battery of cognitive tests on free-ranging primates housed within the Centre for Primatology (SILABE, University of Strasbourg, France), using automated testing facilities. You will measure how accurately individuals represent the social relationships in their group, and the extent to which is accuracy can be explained by facial expression processing, identity processing, social memory, social motivation and other relevant socio-cognitive abilities. This position will include practical experience with semi free-ranging macaques. You will assist in the supervision of a PhD Student on the project, and lead the analysis, interpretation, publication and dissemination of research.

Please see here for further details about the project: https://jamiewhitehouse.github.io/mappingconnections/ . For informal queries about the position before applying, please don't hesitate to contact Jamie Whitehouse (jamie.whitehouse@ntu.ac.uk)

Interview date: Week Commencing 6th July or Week Commencing 13th July

About Us

NTU Psychology is recognised nationally and internationally for delivering theoretically informed and applied research. Within the UK we are the largest provider of full-time undergraduate degrees in psychology. Our pre-covid NSS scores for overall satisfaction was above 90% for eight years and since covid have been ahead of the sector average and sector benchmarks. We provide a learning experience of the highest quality to our students and pride ourselves as being at the forefront of sector innovations in teaching and learning. As a department we have co-written the introductory Essential Psychology textbook for SAGE, recently completing the 4th edition.

Join Us

Find out more about our academic community at NTU, including the support we offer to academics at all stages of their careers.

We also offer:

• 30 - 35 days annual leave per year plus statutory bank holidays and 5 university closure days pro rata
• Salary Sacrifice Retirement Savings Plan with life assurance and income protection. Available to colleagues who choose to opt out of the contractual pension scheme. Minimum colleague contributions of 0% matched with minimum NTU contributions of 8%.
• Range of health and wellbeing services, including a Health Cash Plan, voluntary benefits, discounts, and savings for all colleagues.
• And a whole lot more…Find out more about the range of benefits we offer.

Come and be part of our success. Apply today.

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