Research Fellow (Fixed Term)

University of Nottingham; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Friendly working environment

30 days holiday (pro rata) plus bank

Staff development and career support

Benefits package

Job summary

University of Nottingham invites applications for a Research Fellow to join a vibrant research programme investigating neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying complex visual behaviour. The project combines behavioural experiments, eye tracking, next-generation neuroimaging, modelling and advanced data analysis to understand decision making in dynamic visual tasks.

You will work with an interdisciplinary team led by Dr Matias Ison, contributing to experimental design, data collection and

Qualifications

• PhD required in Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, or closely related discipline.
• Experience analysing complex behavioural or neuroscientific datasets with quantitative methods.
• Interest in developing biologically informed accounts of adaptive behaviour and decision making.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to experimental design, data collection, analysis and dissemination.
• Develop novel analytical and computational approaches for multimodal datasets.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team on neuroimaging and eye-tracking studies.

Skills

Data analysis

Quantitative methods

Computational modelling

Education

PhD in Neuroscience

PhD in Cognitive Science

Job description

Salary £35,608 to £47,389 per annum, depending on skills and experience.

Area Psychology

Location University Park

Closing Date Thursday 19 November 2026

Reference SCI2637226

About the role

Applications are invited for a Research Fellow to join an exciting research programme investigating the neural and cognitive mechanisms that support complex visual behaviour. The project will combine behavioural experimentation, eye tracking, next-generation OPM-MEG neuroimaging, computational modelling, and advanced data analysis approaches to understand how people make decisions while searching dynamic visual environments. The research aims to advance understanding of adaptive behaviour and decision-making in free-viewing tasks. The successful candidate will contribute to experimental design, data collection, analysis and dissemination activities, working with multimodal behavioural and neuroscientific datasets. There will be opportunities to contribute to the development of novel analytical and computational approaches within a highly collaborative research environment. This is a full-time, fixed-term position available until 24 February 2028.

About the team

You will join an interdisciplinary team led by Dr Matias Ison with expertise spanning cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, eye movement research, computational modelling, and human behaviour. The role offers opportunities to collaborate with national and international partners, contribute to high-impact publications, and help develop innovative open-science resources for the wider research community.

About you

You will hold a PhD in Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, or a closely related discipline. We are particularly interested in candidates with experience investigating how learning, contextual information, or reward contingencies influence neural representations and behaviour, and who are interested in developing biologically informed accounts of adaptive behaviour and decision making. You should have experience analysing complex behavioural or neuroscientific datasets and be comfortable working with quantitative and computational methods. Experience with neurophysiological or related approaches to studying neural function would be advantageous, as would experience applying computational approaches to behavioural and neural data. You will be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team and have a developing publication record commensurate with your career stage. Experience working with international collaborators and willingness to engage in collaborative activities with partner institutions would be beneficial.

What We Offer

• A friendly, diverse, and supportive working environment
• Generous holiday entitlement of 30 days (or pro rata) plus standard bank holidays and five university closure days including closure between Christmas and New Year.
• We are committed to staff development through the provision of training, continued support, and career progression opportunities
• You will have access to a range of benefits and rewards, including fitness and health facilities, staff discounts, travel schemes and many more. To find out more about what we can offer you, follow the link to our benefits website

Your normal working hours will be 36.25 hours per week. This is a Fixed Term contract for 12 months. Anticipated start date 24/02/2027.

Please contact Dr Matias Ison ([e-mail]) if you have further questions about this role. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Our university is a supportive, inclusive, caring and positive community. We welcome those of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs – indeed this very diversity is vital to our success, it is fundamental to our values and enriches life on campus. Visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion website.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) employer . Increasing the diversity of our community is extremely important to us and we are committed to the aims of Disability Confident Scheme.

We are the first university to have achieved Athena Swan Gold Award .

To help you succeed, we published Candidate Guidance to provide support on the application and interview process.

Discover our benefits, visit Your Benefits website.

We welcome applications from UK, Europe and worldwide and aim to make your move to the UK as smooth as possible. Visit the Moving to Nottingham page for details.

Your application will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as set out by UK Visas & Immigration .