OPM Research Fellow

Research and Research Support                 ·                London                 ·                Full time

OPM Research Fellow

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Ref Number: B02-06258

Professional Expertise: Research and Research Support

Department: School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)

Location: London

Working Pattern: Full time

Salary: £42,099–£50,585

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Type: On site (> 80% of working time)

Available For Secondment: No

Closing Date; 14-Jan-2024

About us

Over the past 25 years, the Department, home to the internationally renowned Functional Imaging Laboratory (FIL), has pioneered the development and application of imaging techniques to advance our understanding of the human brain. It continues to play a leading role in progressing and transforming research in many areas of neuroscience. We bring together clinicians and scientists who study higher cognitive function using neuroimaging techniques. Our goal is to understand how thought and perception arise from brain activity, and how such processes break down in neurological and psychiatric disease. The Department studies all aspects of higher cognitive function and develops cutting edge data acquisition and analysis methods.

The Department seeks to answer fundamental questions about how the brain works, particularly in contexts more representative of our everyday lives, to increase our understanding of real-world cognition and improve human health.

About the role

The Department has pioneered the development of optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) technology and its application to neuroscience research. The purpose of this post is to further develop this technology by enabling the sensors to operate in everyday environments and thereby contribute to our establishment of a Wellcome-funded Discovery Research Platform for Naturalistic Neuroimaging.

The Department has two dedicated OPM scanning suites. One is dedicated to researching active shielding solutions that would allow OPMs to be operated in more typical, everyday environments. Expensive passive shielding, in the form of a magnetically shielded room, is currently the main barrier to entry for the OPM technology. Removing this requirement would greatly expand the accessibility of the technology and help to truly propagate it worldwide for the benefit of all.

You will help to achieve this ambitious aim by designing hardware and software to suppress the interfering magnetic fields observed in everyday environments, in real-time, while simultaneously preserving the neuronal signals of interest.

This is a unique opportunity for a technically able and highly collaborative individual to be at the forefront of developing this cutting-edge technology and advancing its global accessibility.

The role is available from 01 February 2024 and is funded by an award from Wellcome for three years in the first instance.

If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online, or have any queries regarding the application process, please contact the Institute of Neurology HR Team (ion.hradmin@ucl.ac.uk).

Informal enquiries regarding the role can be addressed to Professor Martina Callaghan (m.callaghan@ucl.ac.uk).

A full job description and person specification for this role can be accessed below.

About you

You will hold an Honours degree (minimum 2:1) in a technical or numerate discipline combined with a PhD in Engineering, Physics, Neuroscience, or a related field. You should have demonstrable expertise in instrumentation and the design of real-time control systems, as well as experience in programming in at least one of MATLAB, Python, or a C-based language.

You will need to possess excellent written and verbal communication skills. It is essential to have a strong aptitude for problem-solving, which includes the ability to diagnose complex hardware and software issues. Additionally, you will have outstanding time management and interpersonal skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and the capability to work independently without close supervision.

This role meets the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.

What we offer

Appointment as Research Fellow is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be as Research Assistant (salary £37,332 – £39,980 per annum) with appointment as Research Fellow being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer great benefits, some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Institute prides itself on operating in an all-inclusive environment irrespective of personal, physical, or social characteristics. Teamwork is highly valued, individual strengths are recognised and celebrated, and we are committed to advancing the careers of everyone. 12% of Institute staff are actively working on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives; visit our EDI website for more information about our initiatives and priorities. The Institute also holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality. 

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. 

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce; these include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ and gender diverse people in all roles, and women in Grade 9 and 10 roles. 

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

• Download: UCL Guidance for Candidates.pdf
• Download: OPM Research Fellow-Job description and person specification.pdf

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