Research Fellow in Cognitive Neuroimaging of Perception in London

Over the past 30 years, the Department of Imaging Neuroscience, home to the internationally renowned Functional Imaging Laboratory (FIL), has pioneered the development and application of imaging techniques to advance our understanding of the human brain. It continues to play a leading role in progressing and transforming research in many areas of neuroscience. The Department hosts multiple large-scale collaborative grants including the Wellcome-funded Discovery Research Platform for Naturalistic Neuroimaging, and the Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research.

The Visual Perception team, based in the Department and led by Professor Peter Kok, uses a combination of state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques (esp. 7T fMRI and MEG) to shed light on the neural underpinning of our visual perception of the world. A major insight from the past decades is that visual perception is strongly influenced by our prior knowledge and predictions. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this process are largely unknown.

A major focus of the Visual Perception team in the coming years will be the role of the hippocampus in supplying predictions to guide visual perception. We plan to investigate the computations taking place in the different hippocampal subfields and the role of hippocampal theta in coordinating predicting and perceiving. We are now recruiting a Research Fellow to undertake high quality research using cutting-edge human neuroimaging, for example, subfield-specific hippocampal and layer-specific cortical responses (using 7T fMRI) and time-resolved decoding of the neural dynamics underlying visual predictions (using MEG and intracranial recordings). For some analyses deep neural networks (DNNs) will be used to probe the representational contents of neural signals.

Key responsibilities will be to design experiments, recruit and assess study participants, coordinate study logistics, and to collect and analyse behavioural and neuroimaging data for publications and presentation at international conferences and internal meetings. The post is available from 04 January 2027 and funded by a grant from the European Research Council until 31 December 2029 in the first instance.

You will have a PhD in psychology, neuroscience, or a related discipline, coupled with experience of designing and conducting experiments using 7T MRI and/or MEG/EEG, and analysing the resulting data. Good knowledge of neuroanatomy, visual perception, and advanced neuroimaging analyses such as retinotopic mapping, machine learning (classification and decoding methods), structural MRI techniques (cortical segmentation), and deep neural networks is essential, as are strong programming and problem-solving skills, and exceptional attention to detail.

This role meets the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.

Starting salary offered in the range £45,103 - £46,261 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance. Appointment as Research Fellow is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be as Research Assistant (salary £39,148 - £41,833 per annum) with appointment as Research Fellow being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis. As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer great benefits, some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service

We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible, and job share basis wherever possible.

The Institute prides itself on operating in an all-inclusive environment irrespective of personal, physical, or social characteristics. Teamwork is highly valued, individual strengths are recognised and celebrated, and we are committed to advancing the careers of everyone. 12% of Institute staff are actively working on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives; visit our EDI website for more information about our initiatives and priorities. The Institute also holds an Athena SWAN Gold award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality. As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce; these include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ and gender diverse people in all roles, and women in Grade 9 and 10 roles.