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  4. Research Assistant in the Department of Psychology 2025
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Applications are invited for the post of Wellcome Trust funded Research Assistant in the Department of Psychology [part-time post, available from 04 January 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter for a fixed term of 6 months].

The team

The position is formally within the SoCCR Lab (Social Computation and Cognitive Representation Lab) directed by Dr. Joseph M Barnby, which develops and tests computational and formal theories of social interaction in health and disorder. The fellow will also be working closely with the PostDoctoral Research Fellow on the project, Dr Gavin Cooper, three Co-Is: Drs Alex Pike and Catia Oliveira (University of York) and Dr Lei Zhang (University of Birmingham), and our UXUI team.

Dr Barnby’s group currently consists of one Postdoctoral Fellow, one PhD student and two DClinPsy students. The post holder will be a member of this lab with responsibility for the provision of team and analysis support for a Wellcome Trust-funded project, “Hypatia: Health Modelling Made Simple”. The position offers an exciting opportunity to develop and use state-of-the-art methods to build a free browser-based solution to allow simulation and fitting of common computational models, with the final milestone to have a working beta version. The role will primarily involve software engineering/programming the Hypatia site, retaining a core knowledge of computational modelling as it relates to health care, neuroscience, and psychology, and liaising with project consultants to develop the UX/UI, backend support, and aesthetics of the platform. There is significant opportunity for skill development, including gaining experience of industry liaison, translational neuroscience, and computational modelling expertise.

The team will also present to and be guided by an advisory board, which includes Prof. Peter Dayan (Tuebingen), Dr Emma Černis (University of Birmingham), Dr Rick Adams (UCL), Prof Eric-Jan Wagenmakers (Amsterdam; JASP team), and Dr Jenny Murphy (Royal Holloway).

The postholder would join a thriving research-intensive department (ranked 3 rd in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience in REF2021, source: Times Higher Education). Royal Holloway has a dedicated computer cluster and a strong computational community.

Essential criteria for the post include

  • A BSc in psychology, statistics, cognitive neuroscience, computer science or similar (we are happy to consider candidates in their PhD who wish to take up the role on the side).
  • Interest in using theory-driven computational modelling for theoretical or experimental work
  • Enthusiasm for and commitment to research on computational modelling of decision making.
  • Interests or experience in learning open source programming (Python, R, JavaScript, C++).
  • High level of attention to detail
  • The ability to work in a collegiate manner with team members with some independence
  • Excellent communication skills, in both writing and speaking. The job involves working with a number of industry and academic partners so the post holder must be able to present information effectively.

Desirable criteria include

  • An MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology, Computer Science, or equivalent
  • Experience/interest in standardised assessments of digital health, mental health, social skills, and/ or cognition
  • Interest in working with industry partners.
  • Experience of and enthusiasm for open science practices

About us

We recognise that it is very unlikely that candidates will meet all desirable criteria, and strongly encourage candidates to apply if they meet the essential criteria and some of the desirable criteria.

This is a part-time post, available from 4 January 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter for a fixed term of 6 months, with the possibility of extension following a successful final milestone and funding renewal.

The physical post is based in Egham, Surrey where the College is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London. We are happy to consider requests for flexible or remote working options.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact the PI Dr. Joseph M Barnby on joseph.barnby@rhul.ac.uk.

For queries on the application process the Human Resources Department can be contacted by email at: recruitment@rhul.ac.uk