19228BR
School of Psychology
Research
Advert
Research Assistant (Part-Time)
School of Psychology
The School of Psychology has an exciting new Research Assistant position using time-series and machine learning classifiers to help in developing novel treatments for Depression and PTSD through the manipulation and identification of memory reactivation in sleep.
- Targeted Memory Reactivation in sleep to alleviate PTSD. This post will focus on the triggering of negative memories in REM sleep in order to decouple the arousal and render them less upsetting
- Targeted Memory Reactivation in sleep to alleviate Depression. This post will focus on the triggering of positive memories in sleep to improve low mood.
This is a 3 year position and successful candidates will be encouraged to complete a PhD as a staff candidate during their employment.
This project is funded by the Wellcome Trust on a multi centre grant led by Penny Lewis, who specializes in the study of what sleep does to our memories, and is based at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). The post-holder join a team of researchers including Depression researcher (and Consultant Psychiatrist) Neil Harrison, PTSD specialist (and Consultant Psychiatrist) Jon Bisson at the Welsh National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH), and Tim Denison, who leads a team of research engineers who have developed the wearable device which we will use in this project.
Cardiff University’s Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) is one of the best equipped neuroscience institutes in Europe, housing 3 MRI scanners, including a 7T and a Connectom scanner, a MEG, EEG labs, a brain stimulation lab, and of course the state of the art sleep lab. The Welsh National Centre for Mental Health is right next door. The Neuroscience and Psychology of Sleep (NaPS) group is housed within CUBRIC, and conducts world-leading research on the impacts of sleep on cognitive processes.
Cardiff is a beautiful green city with easy access to the coast (beaches) and hills (Brecon Beacons and similar).
This post is part time (24 hours per week), fixed-term for a period of 3 years and available immediately.
Salary: £33,232 to £35,880 per annum, pro-rata (Grade 5). It is not expected to appoint above the first point of the scale £33,232 per annum (pro-rata). This will be £22,787 per annum, for 24 hours per week.
Date advert posted: Thursday, 24 October 2024
Closing date: Thursday, 21 November 2024
Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University
Job Description
Main Function
To contribute to research within specialist area of sleep engineering, carrying out time-series analyses that leads to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
- To undertake research, e.g. by planning, preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcome of experiments.
- To perform analysis of EEG and heart rate data using in both time and frequency domains.
- To conduct experiments where the participants are wearing devices to measure sleep and deliver TMR, to develop protocols for running experiments with these devices.
- To collect and analyse EEG and behavioural data and assist in training junior members of the team to help with these tasks.
- To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
- To support and prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate
- To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field.
- Actively participate within the research group, communicating and presenting research at meetings, through publications and other recognised avenues as appropriate, ensuring information is communicated to internal and external partners
- To contribute and support research publications and presentations as required
- To contribute and support research funding bids as required
- To analyse and communicate complex ideas, concepts and data using appropriate methods and packages
- To resolve issues and support colleagues in devising procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting
- To generate research output and contribute to the development of independent and original ideas as appropriate
- To provide support in research activities for undergraduate courses and research programmes and provide guidance to other members of staff within the research team
- To maintain and update area of specialist knowledge, researching and critically appraising relevant literature within the area.
Other
- To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world
- To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
- To ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
- To abide by the University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
- Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.
Person Specification
IMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing and we only invite candidates to interview who clearly evidence that they meet (or partially meet) each of the essential criteria. During the application process you will be asked to attach a supporting statement. This statement must outline how you meet the criteria below and we recommended formatting this by using each criteria as a sub-heading and providing your relevant experience/evidence below each sub-heading. It is crucial that you save your supporting statement with the vacancy number (eg. 1234BR) in the filename as failure to do so may result in it being omitted from your application.
Essential Criteria
Qualifications and Education
- A degree in Engineering/Computer science/Mathematics and statistics or related area.
Knowledge, Skills And Experience
- Knowledge of research methods and techniques within some/all of the following specialist fields
- EEG analysis (ERPs and Time Frequency), ideally with Matlab (Fieldtrip), Python.
- Familiarity with coding in Matlab and python.
- Proven ability to analyse complex information and summarise appropriately.
- Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies
- Familiarity with classical machine learning algorithms and linear classifiers.
Communication and Team Working
- Proven communication skills, including presentation to various audiences
- Excellent organisational and team-working skills
Other
- Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and teamworking within work.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of:
- Analysing EEG signals in time and frequency domains with fieldtrip/EEGlab/MNE-python is a plus.
- Performing statistical analyses.
- Analysis of sleep graphoelements (spindles and slow oscillations)
- Proven ability to work without close supervision
- Interest in pursuing a PhD.
Salary Range Min.
33,232
Salary Range Max.
35,880
Job Category
Academic - Research
Grade
Grade 5
