Research Fellow in Computational Neuroscience - School of Psychology - 107383 - Grade 8 in Birmingham

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 8, salary £50,253. Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to April 2028 (with likely extension to July 2028). Closing date: 24th May 2026.

The School of Psychology, alongside the Institute for Data and AI (IDAI), and the Centre for Human Brain Health (CHBH), invites applications for a Research Fellow/postdoc (Grade 8) with a strong background in Computational Neuroscience. This is a 2-year position funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) as part of a grant to investigate approaches for combatting the spread of misinformation.

The project uses cutting-edge brain mapping techniques to observe, in real time, how individuals from varied backgrounds respond to trustworthy and false digital content. These data are then used to build an AI system that helps individuals recognise when they are at risk of uncritically accepting or rejecting information and help them activate their reflective and critical thinking skills.

This position is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated and skilled researcher to contribute to a high-profile and high-impact research project that spans STEM and social science disciplines. The successful applicant will be part of an interdisciplinary team of researchers and be affiliated with the School of Psychology, IDAI and CHBH.

The post-holder will lead the neuroscience components of this interdisciplinary project, investigating how the brain’s Default Mode Network processes misinformation. Specific responsibilities include:

• Designing and conducting fMRI studies at the Centre for Human Brain Health (CHBH);
• Identifying scalable psychophysiological markers of critical thinking;
• Contributing to community co-design activities;
• Supporting the translation of neurocognitive findings into the project's AI platform.

The role requires expertise in cognitive neuroscience, fMRI methodology, and ideally experience with belief updating or social cognition paradigms.

Role Summary

• Initiate and conduct original research which has measurable outcomes and is reflected in a growing national and often incipient international reputation.
• Plan, design and co-ordinate research activities and programmes.
• Contribute to the development of research strategies.
• Publish results of own research.
• Supervise PhD students.
• Contribute to the Department/School through management/leadership.
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities, widening participation, schools outreach or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University.

This 2-year MRC-funded Research Fellow position focuses on computational neuroscience approaches to understanding and mitigating misinformation. The post-holder will lead neuroimaging work, using fMRI to investigate how the brain’s Default Mode Network processes trustworthy and false information. They will develop scalable psychophysiological markers of critical thinking and contribute to translating neurocognitive insights into an AI system that supports reflective decision-making. Working within an interdisciplinary team, the researcher will design and deliver high-quality studies, publish findings, and support broader project goals spanning neuroscience, data science, and societal impact.

Main Duties

• To plan and carry out research, using appropriate methodology and techniques.
• Conduct innovative research in Computational Neuroscience, contributing to the advancement of state-of-the-art methods and tools.
• Pursue personal research including developing research ideas and winning support, including financial support.
• Plan, publish and/or execute high quality research.
• Project manage research activities, and/or supervise other research staff.
• Present high quality findings in publications and conference proceedings.
• Develop novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued.
• Supervise and examine PhD students, both within and out with the University.
• Provide expert advice to colleagues and students within discipline.
• Contribute to the administration/management of research across the Department/School.
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, and public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University.
• Contribute to some administrative activities within the University, typically relating to research.
• Apply knowledge in a way that develops new intellectual understanding.
• Actively manage equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.
• Contribute to supervising PhD students.

Person Specification

• PhD, or near completion, in Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related field.
• Extensive research experience and scholarship in cognitive neuroscience and fMRI.
• Experience with identifying and recording scalable psychophysiological markers and/or translation of neurocognitive findings into computational models.
• Ideally, experience with belief updating and/or social cognition paradigms.
• Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful models, techniques and methods.
• Extensive programming experience in Python / R / Matlab.
• Extensive experience in advanced statistical methods and data visualisation techniques.
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high-quality results.
• Extensive experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity.
• Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation.
• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, and procedures are applied.
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

Informal enquiries to Jennifer Cook, email: j.l.cook@bham.ac.uk.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy.