Post doc in Cognitive-Computational Modelling/Theoretical Neuroscience at University College London: discrete and continuous human action control under threat

We are looking for a research fellow in an ERC-funded research project "Action selection under threat - the complex control of human defence" led by Dominik Bach (http://bachlab.org) at University College London in collaboration with Peter Dayan, Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen (https://www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/de/computational-neuroscience). The position will be based at Max-Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry (https://www.mps-ucl-centre.mpg.de/en) and Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/).

The overarching goal of the project is to understand the cognitive-computational control of human action selection under acute, immediate threat. We investigate this in an immersive virtual reality (VR) environment, in which people can move to avoid a large number of different threats. As part of this project, the candidate will build explicit theoretical and computational models of discrete and continuous action control and action updating under constraints of time pressure and unaffordable costs. These will be tested by the experimentalists in our interdisciplinary team, composed of VR experts, psychologists, and movement scientists. If desired there is a possibility to get involved in the experimental work, including behavioural experiments, motion capture and OPM-MEG. Within the topical focus, the project offers unique freedom to explore and develop novel directions and formalisms at the interface of classical discrete-space decision models and continous action control.

We seek applicants with a track record of cognitive-computational modelling and a PhD in computational neuroscience, robotics with focus on action planning, computer science/mathematics/physics with a focus on decision science, or in a related area. We are looking for an individual who is strongly motivated to pursue an academic career and is excited by the opportunities for personal and career development this position can provide.

The post is available from now with negotiable starting date. Funding is available for up to 3 years. Starting salary is on UCL grade 7, ranging from £36,770 to £44,388 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance, superannuable. 

More information, a full job description, and access to the UCL online application portal: https://bit.ly/3G6uQAg

Please contact d.bach@ucl.ac.uk for any queries about the project or role.

Closing date: 16 November 2021

Interviews will be held remotely in December.

Apologies for cross-posting.

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Dominik R Bach MBBS PhD
Professor for Cognitive-Computational and Clinical Neuroscience
Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research
Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London
bachlab.org | @bachlab_cog