13521- Post-Doctoral Research Associate

University of Edinburgh; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in Scotland is seeking a full time Post-Doctoral Research Associate for a fixed term position. The successful candidate will work within a research team to investigate the cultural evolution of archaeological information. Candidates must possess a PhD in a relevant field and demonstrate advanced programming skills in JavaScript or Python, along with expertise in advanced statistics and natural language processing techniques. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research funded by a leading trust.

Qualifications

• PhD defended on a related topic.
• Experience in advanced statistics for research.
• Ability to design experiments in JavaScript or Python.
• Advanced NLP expertise with Python or R.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on the cultural evolution of archaeological information.
• Utilize advanced transmission chain experiments and NLP techniques.

Skills

Research experience using advanced statistics

Advanced experimental designs in JavaScript or Python

NLP expertise using Python or R

Education

PhD in psychology, cognitive science, linguistics, cultural evolution, or related field

Job description

Grade UE07: £41,064- £48,822 per annum (pro rata for part time)
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Full time: 35 hours per week
Fixed Term: 24 months

Opportunity

The Psychology Department in the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences are seeking a full time, fixed term Post-Doctoral Research Associate. This post is available from 1st of September 2026.

The successful candidate will work alongside Dr Zachary Horne and other team members as part of an Leverhulme Trust (2025-2028) funded grant ‘Weaponised Pasts: The Evolution of Heritage-based Hostility on Social Media’. The PDRA will undertake research focused on the cultural evolution of archaeological information using advanced transmission chain experiments and natural language processing techniques.

Skills and Attributes for Success

• PhD (already defended) on a topic related to one or more of the following: psychology, cognitive science, linguistics, cultural evolution, diffusion of information or hostility or to a relevant topic.
• Evidence of experience undertaking research using advanced statistics.
• Evidence of ability to build advanced experimental designs in JavaScript or Python.
• Evidence of advanced NLP expertise using Python or R.
• Evidence of experience undertaking experimental research using advanced statistics.