Research Associate Position at Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre

We are seeking an enthusiastic early-career scientist for a research associate position at Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). The successful candidate will join a collaborative and multidisciplinary research team to work on the neurocognitive mechanisms of human decision-making, integrating multimodal brain imaging (MEG, functional MRI and diffusion MRI) and computational modelling.

The post holder will develop computational models that describe data from behavioural and brain imaging experiments, in particular to take a lead role in integrating large-scale computational simulations with imaging results from multiple modalities. The research aims to understand the computational and neurocognitive processes of human decision-making, and how decision deficits may arise due to brain injury or neurodegeneration. The research associate will also be expected to collaborate with other researchers in the team on imaging data analyses and data curation.

You will have access to imaging facilities at CUBRIC and several multimodal imaging datasets. Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) houses a unique combination of state-of-the-art facilities and world-leading expertise, with 4 human MRI systems (2 x Siemens Prisma, 1 x Siemens Connectom, 1 x Siemens 7T), MEG, EEG, TMS, tDCS, clinical research units and testing labs. Further details of CUBRIC can be found on our webpage (http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/cubric).

This is a full-time, fixed-term position until February 2023, available to start now. Remote working is possible if COVID-19 restrictions are in place. For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Jiaxiang Zhang (zhangj73 at cardiff.ac.uk).

A formal application needs to be submitted via the link online (https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CEQ831/research-associate). Application deadline: April 6th, 2021.

Essential Criteria

• A PhD degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., mathematics, computer science, engineering, physics or psychology)
• Research experience or a strong interest in human decision-making
• Strong experience in computational models of cognitive processes and/or macroscopic neural systems, including the use of neural mass models or neural field models
• Experience of analysing brain imaging data in one or more modalities (e.g., diffusion MRI, BOLD functional MRI, MEG/EEG), using common software packages
• Strong programming skills (e.g., Matlab, Python, C/C++ or R)
• Experience with Unix/Linux environment for data analysis, including bash scripting and parallel computing on high-performance clusters
• Proven ability to publish high-quality research in peer-reviewed academic journals
• Knowledge of software development cycles and best programming practices, including coding standards, version control administration, debug and code sharing, with strong commitments to open science practices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, evidenced by publications and/or conference presentations
• Strong interpersonal skills, including proven ability to work cooperatively within a team while also being able to take the initiative

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of brain functional and structural connectivity analyses
• Experience in statistical methods (e.g., GLM, mixed models, multivariate statistics, hierarchical models and Bayesian statistics)and/or machine learning methods
• Experience in deep learning models of imaging processing

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Dr. Jiaxiang Zhang
Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC)
School of Psychology
Cardiff University
Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
https://ccbrain.org