Postdoctoral Research Associate Full-time

Postdoctoral Research Associate

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic. The Department of Experimental Psychology is based in the new, purpose-built Life and Mind Building, a multidisciplinary research and teaching facility.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Neuromodulatory Systems and Cognition Lab, led by Nima Khalighinejad, in the Department of Experimental Psychology. The successful candidate will work on a Wellcome Trust-funded project investigating how dopaminergic and serotonergic systems interact in the non-human primate frontal cortex to support learning and decision-making.

The successful applicant will design novel behavioural tasks, train and test non-human primates, and conduct MRI experiments and causal manipulations of neuromodulatory systems using blood-brain barrier opening, targeted drug delivery and non-invasive neuromodulation techniques. The postholder will undertake quantitative and statistical analysis of behavioural and neuroimaging data, work closely with multidisciplinary collaborators, and take intellectual leadership of the project, including driving publications.

The post is full-time, fixed term for 2 years, and is available from January 2027. When not involved in activities requiring on-site presence, such as data collection or group meetings, remote working may be possible.

Applicants should hold a PhD/DPhil, or be close to completion, in neuroscience, psychology, computational neuroscience, biomedical engineering or a closely related quantitative STEM discipline. A strong background in cognitive, behavioural and/or systems neuroscience is essential, together with experience of designing behavioural tasks and analysing behavioural data. Applicants should also have experience of working with non-human primates, including behavioural training, and experience of transcranial ultrasound techniques and MRI data collection and/or analysis, or strong motivation to develop further expertise in neuroimaging methods.

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees' wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including: an excellent contributory pension scheme, 38 days annual leave, a comprehensive range of childcare services, family leave schemes, cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel and season ticket travel loans, membership to a variety of social and sports clubs.

The University of Oxford is committed to equal opportunity, and to being an inclusive institution where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We recognise how the diversity of our community enriches our ability to deliver on our academic mission. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. No applicant or members of staff shall be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.