Postdoctoral Research Associate

Queen Mary University of London - School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences - Department of Psychology

About the Role

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the research group of Dr Versace at Queen Mary University of London (Department of Psychology), working in the areas of computational and behavioural neuroscience with modelling and domestic chicks’ data. This position is funded by a Leverhulme Trust project entitled “Generalisation from limited experience: how to solve the problem of induction”.

How biological and artificial agents can use limited evidence to effectively learn and generalise is a long standing issue for psychology, AI/computational sciences, neuroscience and philosophy, that requires empirical investigation and modelling to be solved. In this project, we leverage evidence from precocial animals and modelling to address this issue using an interdisciplinary approach.

About You

The ideal candidate will have a PhD (or close to completion) in areas related to AI and/or animal cognition, behavioural neuroscience. You should have general experience with research in modelling/AI and/or computational neuroscience, with strong computational skills.

The post holder will provide research support in the area of computational neuroscience/AI and animal cognition, develop neural network models, produce stimuli for artificial and biological agents, participate in experiments with chicks maintained in the Biological Services Unit, contribute to lab meetings and research dissemination activities (written and oral), provide support in the research laboratory (including developing, updating, maintaining protocols, archiving data, monitor animal experiments, update health and safety protocols, ordering/collating research materials).

About the School

The School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences (SBBS) is one of the largest Schools within Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and is committed to excellence in research and teaching. The Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology offers a lively and stimulating environment for both staff and students, well integrated in the School.

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable. Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers. We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits

We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, campus facilities and flexible working arrangements. Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.