Research Fellow (Fixed Term)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Friendly environment

30 days holiday

Staff development

Benefits package

Job summary

The University of Nottingham invites applications for a Research Fellow to join an exciting programme investigating neural and cognitive mechanisms that support complex visual behaviour. The project will combine behavioural experimentation, eye tracking and neuroimaging to understand decision making in dynamic environments.

You will contribute to experimental design, data collection, analysis and dissemination, working with multimodal datasets and developing analytical approaches within a

Qualifications

• PhD in Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, or closely related discipline.
• Experience analysing complex behavioural or neuroscientific datasets.
• Experience with quantitative and computational methods.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to experimental design, data collection and analysis.
• Disseminate findings through publications and presentations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team and partner institutions.
• Help develop open-science resources and novel analytical approaches.

Skills

Data analysis

Computational modelling

Eye-tracking

Neuroimaging

Quantitative methods

Education

PhD in Neuroscience or Cognitive Science

Tools

OPM-MEG

Job description

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

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

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.

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

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 .