There is a vacancy for a Research Assistant or a Postdoctoral Research Associate on a project studying the development of spatial cognition in children. The position is based in Dr Marko Nardini's lab at UCL and is funded for a period of 36 months in the first instance by a Scholar Award from the James S. McDonnell Foundation. The project will extend the Principal Investigator's previous work on spatial cognitive development (for reprints, see http://tinyurl.com/nardini), focusing on:
- - Developing new methods for testing spatial cognition in early and mid- childhood, using motion tracking in real environments, and in immersive virtual reality.
- - Developing new tasks to compare human spatial cognitive development with development in model organisms whose behaviour can be related to neural substrates (in collaboration with colleagues at UCL; see http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/328/5985/1573)
- -Mathematical modelling and longitudinal studies of spatial cognitive development; studies of spatial behaviour in the wider contexts of reward-mediated learning and episodic memory
The successful applicant will carry out a range of duties, including helping to set up and run new developmental spatial studies in real environments and in virtual reality.
The post will suit an applicant with an interest in spatial cognition, an aptitude for working with young participants, and the ability to manage the technical demands of testing using motion tracking and virtual reality. Applicants must have a good first degree (BSc or equivalent) in a scientific discipline related to experimental psychology and be proficient in mathematics. Previous experience in cognitive, perceptual or developmental research, programming, or mathematical modelling would be an advantage. At the Research Associate level, a completed PhD in a relevant discipline is also required. The post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check.
The starting salary range is £27,796 to £29,318 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance (Research Assistant), or £31,778 to £34,466 per annum (Research Associate).
Prospective applicants are welcome to contact m.nardini@ucl.ac.uk with informal enquiries about the post.
For a full job description, and to apply online, please go to the UCL job announcement.
