Organisation/Company: DURHAM UNIVERSITY
Research Field: Psychological sciences
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2), Established Researcher (R3)
Country: United Kingdom
Application Deadline: 15 Feb 2025 - 00:00 (UTC)
Type of Contract: Other
Job Status: Full-time
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
The Role A 36-month fixed-term full time Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position is available at the Department of Psychology at Durham University. The successful candidate will join the research project
Flexibility of predictive processing in scene viewing and representation , led by Dr Sara Spotorno and funded by the Leverhulme Trust. This project investigates how we use knowledge acquired from life experience (schemas) to predict what we should see and where we should see it in real-world scenes. It examines how predictions about scenes can be updated when schemas are not useful or are interfering with the current task, using high precision eye-tracking to analyze the time course of attentional selection during scene viewing. The successful applicant will have primary responsibility for developing experimental materials, programming eye-tracking experiments, recruiting participants, collecting and analyzing data, and writing studies for publication and presentation at scientific conferences. The project is ideally suited for someone organized, a clear communicator with excellent writing skills, and has a solid experimental psychology training basis, although a background in cognitive neuroscience or computer science with experimental research experience may be appropriate. A combination of rigour and creativity in experimental design would be highly valued. This is a great opportunity to work on a cutting-edge project with clear theoretical focus and interdisciplinary implications, providing insights into how we explore, interpret, and integrate new information from our visual surroundings. The PDRA will have access to outstanding resources, including equipment, dedicated technical support, and travel funding for conferences and collaboration. The successful candidate will have a strong academic track record, including experience in designing, carrying out, analyzing, and interpreting high-quality quantitative research on human perception and/or cognition. Experience with any of the following topics and approaches will be a strong advantage: Real-world visual scene processing, including an understanding of algorithms that can be applied to scenes (e.g., visual salience algorithms). Advanced statistical analysis skills, especially Linear Mixed Effect Models or Bayesian Models. Advanced knowledge of experiment programming software, especially Matlab, Experimental Builder, PsychoPy, Python. Advanced knowledge of software for eye-tracking data extraction and analysis, esp. Matlab and R. However, we do not necessarily expect candidates to have experience in all of these, and we can provide training as needed on those which are unfamiliar. Key responsibilities: To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions leading to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications. To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to academic and non-academic audiences. To publish high-quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator. To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals. To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator. To review the relevant literature and maintain an up-to-date understanding of it. To prepare experimental materials (carefully controlled scene images). To programme eye-tracking experiments for data collection in the laboratory. To extract and analyze eye-tracking and behavioral data. To personally collect data from adult populations in the laboratory. To work with the Principal Investigator to identify areas for research, develop new research methods, and extend the research portfolio. To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator and offering creative or innovative solutions. To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding for future research collaboration. To plan and manage own research activity and resources in collaboration with others and contribute to planning research projects. To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors, and students as appropriate. To be involved in supervision of students and Research Assistants. To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment that is inclusive and welcoming. To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline. To engage in continuing professional development through participation in teaching programmes or departmental committees, and by attending relevant training and development courses. This post is fixed term for 36 months. The funding is available from 1st July 2025, with the possibility of an earlier start if preferred. The post-holder is employed to work on a research project led by the Principal Investigator. While this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in their own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project through the development of their own research ideas and protocols. Successful applicants will ideally be in post by 1st July 2025.
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The Role A 36-month fixed-term full time Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position is available at the Department of Psychology at Durham University. The successful candidate will join the research project
Flexibility of predictive processing in scene viewing and representation , led by Dr Sara Spotorno and funded by the Leverhulme Trust. This project investigates how we use knowledge acquired from life experience (schemas) to predict what we should see and where we should see it in real-world scenes. It examines how predictions about scenes can be updated when schemas are not useful or are interfering with the current task, using high precision eye-tracking to analyze the time course of attentional selection during scene viewing. The successful applicant will have primary responsibility for developing experimental materials, programming eye-tracking experiments, recruiting participants, collecting and analyzing data, and writing studies for publication and presentation at scientific conferences. The project is ideally suited for someone organized, a clear communicator with excellent writing skills, and has a solid experimental psychology training basis, although a background in cognitive neuroscience or computer science with experimental research experience may be appropriate. A combination of rigour and creativity in experimental design would be highly valued. This is a great opportunity to work on a cutting-edge project with clear theoretical focus and interdisciplinary implications, providing insights into how we explore, interpret, and integrate new information from our visual surroundings. The PDRA will have access to outstanding resources, including equipment, dedicated technical support, and travel funding for conferences and collaboration. The successful candidate will have a strong academic track record, including experience in designing, carrying out, analyzing, and interpreting high-quality quantitative research on human perception and/or cognition. Experience with any of the following topics and approaches will be a strong advantage: Real-world visual scene processing, including an understanding of algorithms that can be applied to scenes (e.g., visual salience algorithms). Advanced statistical analysis skills, especially Linear Mixed Effect Models or Bayesian Models. Advanced knowledge of experiment programming software, especially Matlab, Experimental Builder, PsychoPy, Python. Advanced knowledge of software for eye-tracking data extraction and analysis, esp. Matlab and R. However, we do not necessarily expect candidates to have experience in all of these, and we can provide training as needed on those which are unfamiliar. Key responsibilities: To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions leading to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications. To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to academic and non-academic audiences. To publish high-quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator. To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals. To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator. To review the relevant literature and maintain an up-to-date understanding of it. To prepare experimental materials (carefully controlled scene images). To programme eye-tracking experiments for data collection in the laboratory. To extract and analyze eye-tracking and behavioral data. To personally collect data from adult populations in the laboratory. To work with the Principal Investigator to identify areas for research, develop new research methods, and extend the research portfolio. To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator and offering creative or innovative solutions. To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding for future research collaboration. To plan and manage own research activity and resources in collaboration with others and contribute to planning research projects. To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors, and students as appropriate. To be involved in supervision of students and Research Assistants. To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment that is inclusive and welcoming. To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline. To engage in continuing professional development through participation in teaching programmes or departmental committees, and by attending relevant training and development courses. This post is fixed term for 36 months. The funding is available from 1st July 2025, with the possibility of an earlier start if preferred. The post-holder is employed to work on a research project led by the Principal Investigator. While this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in their own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project through the development of their own research ideas and protocols. Successful applicants will ideally be in post by 1st July 2025.
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