Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cognitive Neuroscience in Zürich

A postdoctoral research fellow position is available that will address novel questions in social and cognitive neuroscience using a combination of behavioural measures and state-of-the-art human neuroscience techniques.

The project is part of ongoing research in the Social Brain in Action Laboratory (SoBA Lab) and Neural Control of Movement Laboratory (NCM Lab), which will explore the cognitive and brain systems that underpin our ability to understand the actions and mental states of other people. The NCM and SoBA Labs are international research groups, with the NCM lab housed in the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zürich, which offers access to outstanding facilities for Social / Cognitive Neuroscience. For more information on our research, please see our websites: , .

The Neural Control of Movement Lab and the Social Brain in Action Lab are currently seeking a suitably qualified Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work on a research project directed toward understanding cognitive and brain mechanisms that support social perception and interaction.  

You will work with Dr. Richard Ramsey and Professor Nici Wenderoth, as well as other faculty and researchers in the NCM and SoBA labs to:

• Design and conduct research experiments, analyse secondary datasets, and/or develop computational approaches that investigate the cognitive and brain mechanisms that support social perception and interaction.
• Develop research practices that are in line with open science principles and the latest developments in methods and meta-science.
• Help supervise PhD and masters projects.

You will also be expected to take a leading role in embracing and developing research practices that are in line with open science principles and embrace the latest developments in methods and meta-science. Using these methods, you will be expected to develop a theme of research that examines how neural circuits in the human brain make sense of the dynamic and complex social information that we experience in everyday life. Example research topics include person perception, social learning, and plasticity, as well as loneliness. Example methods include: behavioural measures typical of experimental psychology, human neuroscience methods (e.g., fMRI, TMS, and EMG/ERPS), as well as computational modelling and "Big Data" approaches. Applicants with research interests in other areas of social and cognitive neuroscience are also strongly encouraged to apply.

The position is available full-time for a maximum duration of 3 years and starts with an initial probationary period.

You should have:

• A PhD in cognitive neuroscience or related research disciplines.
• Experience with human neuroscience techniques, such as fMRI, TMS, or M/EEG.
• Strong programming skills (e.g., R, Matlab, Python languages).
• Strong statistical skills, such as experience with linear mixed-effects models (multi-level models).
• Strong written and communication skills.
• A clear commitment to the open science movement and credibility revolution.
• Leadership experience and a capacity to drive research projects independently.
• A desire to be a role model to less experienced researchers and a collaborative attitude towards team-based research projects.
• A commitment to ‘slow science’ - an approach to science that values careful and considered research practices over work that is focussed on generating and counting publications.

Desirable:

• Experience with computational approaches to social and cognitive neuroscience
• Experience with the collection and analysis of motion-tracking and eye-tracking data
• Experience with atypical groups or patients.

• The highest quality of postdoctoral training and supervision.
• The opportunity to work in a vibrant, collaborative, inclusive, and international research group as well as academic institution.
• First-rate access to human neuroscience equipment and resources.