Research Fellow in Human Neuroscience

Salary:

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822.

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract up to July 2028

Role Summary

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the Motivation and Social Neuroscience lab (https://www.msn-lab.com) led by Prof. Matthew Apps. The lab studies the cognitive, computational and neurobiological basis of motivation and decision-making in healthy young adults, across the lifespan and in neurological and psychiatric disorders. This post is funded by a £1.7m ERC Consolidator award and a £5m Wellcome Trust Discovery Award between (Prof. Masud Husain (University of Oxford), Prof. Cath Harmer (University of Oxford), Dr. Simon Little (UCSF) and Prof. Matthew Apps). 

An initial 2-year postdoctoral position (with possibility of extension) is available from 1st August 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The main focus of this role will be on the design, collection, and analysis of novel model-based behavioural, and neuroimaging (fMRI/MEG) experiments in healthy people to examine the brain mechanisms of motivation and apathy. In addition, the post holder may also be involved in behavioural, psychopharmacology, and neuroimaging studies involving children, adolescents, older adults and patients with Parkinson’s Disease running in the lab. Moreover, there will be an opportunity to collaborate and develop tasks that will be used in multiple different patient groups, under different pharmacological agents, and using multivariate techniques alongside collaborators in Oxford, San Francisco, and Berlin.

The successful candidate will be resourceful with the ability to act on their own initiative, excellent quantitative skills including programming (e.g. Matlab, R or Python) for the design and analysis of experiments. Experience of neuroimaging (e.g. fMRI or MEG) and computational modelling is desirable, but not essential. We encourage candidates from diverse range of backgrounds who have an interest in research in decision neuroscience or motivation to apply.

Person Specification

• Have or be close to the completion of a PhD in cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, experimental psychology or a closely related discipline
• Interest in decision neuroscience, motivation, or research on fatigue
• Experience in the design, coding and analysis of behavioural experiments
• Strong quantitative and programming skills, and knowledge of one or more relevant programming languages (e.g. Matlab; Python; R)
• Experience of writing and publishing peer reviewed scientific papers/preprints
• Ability to work independently
• Resourcefulness and organisational skills to act on own initiative
• Strong presentation skills including the ability to present research proposals and results, and represent the lab at meetings
• Good inter-personal skills with an ability to work collaboratively, and help others with ongoing projects 
• High level analytical capability
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof. Matthew Apps, email:m.a.j.apps@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click the 'Apply' button above.

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We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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