Postdoctoral Scholar – Psychology

Reno  ·  Full time

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Job Description

The University of Nevada, Reno, Psychology department is recruiting for a Postdoctoral Researcher to help run an NSF-funded project known as the Visual Experience Database (http://visualexperiencedatabase.org/). The project aims to collect hundreds of hours of first-person video along with eye and head movement data across a range of activities and participants. The successful candidate will be involved in all aspects of the work including collection, annotation, analysis, and organization and storage of the data. This data will be suitable for addressing many questions relating to the natural statistics of the dynamic world as humans perceive it. Applicants with interest (i.e. concrete ideas for potential analyses) and experience in the field of natural image and video statistics will be preferred. Potential projects include estimation of spatial distributions of motion in natural experience, estimation of natural object co-occurrence frequencies, comparison of eye movement patterns across populations and task conditions, and comparison of head movements across populations and task conditions. Candidates are encouraged to bring their own ideas as well. The successful candidate will also help organize a big data summer school that aims to teach relatively novice users the skills needed to work with the database.

• Project code is dominantly in python, so demonstrated experience with python is strongly preferred; demonstrated experience with matlab or C++ is acceptable, if the applicant is willing to transition to python.
• Experience with eye-tracking, body-tracking, and computer vision is desirable.
• A background in engineering and/or computer science is advantageous, including experience with version control, test-driven development, documentation and other best practices for collaborative software projects.
• The position is available immediately with a duration of up to 2 years.

The position will be jointly supervised by Drs. Paul MacNeilage (https://selfmotionlab.github.io/) and Mark Lescroart (http://piecesofmind.psyc.unr.edu) who are both part of the Integrative Neuroscience (https://www.unr.edu/neuroscience) and Cognitive and Brain Sciences programs at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Required Qualifications

• PhD degree in psychology, neuroscience, or a related discipline by time of appointment
• Demonstrated experience with python, Matlab, or C++

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with any or all of the following: eye-tracking, body-tracking, computer vision, version control, test-driven development, documentation and other best practices for collaborative software projects

Compensation Grade

• Postdoctoral Scholar
• Salary Schedules

Total Compensation

The total compensation package includes a competitive salary, a rich retirement plan, health insurance options that include dental and vision, life insurance, long-term disability, annual and sick leave, along with many other benefits. For more information, please visit: UNR Benefits

Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance Program

Informal inquiries should be addressed to Dr. Paul MacNeilage and/or Dr. Mark Lescroart: pmacneilage@unr.edu, mlescroart@unr.edu

Contact Information: Beth Jacobsen, 775-682-8787 or jacobsenb@unr.edu

Exempt: Yes

Full-Time Equivalent: 100.0%

Required Attachment(s): Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at jobs@unr.edu.

Attach the following attachments to your application

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter

This posting is open until filled

Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. This search will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received or a hiring decision has been made.

Note to Applicant: A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver’s license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

Please click here to apply.