Fwd: Two Postdoctoral Positions in Human Neuroimaging of Reward, Risk and Economic Decision-Making, University of Cambridge

FYI ------------------------------------ We seek postdoctoral applicants interested in event-related fMRI in healthy humans. The work is funded by major recent grants from the Wellcome Trust and the European Research Council. Our work investigates the neural processing of fundamental variables underlying learning and decision making in individuals and in social interactions, based on animal learning theory and economic decision theory. We appreciate simple, well designed experimental tasks and thorough behavioural testing. Our rationales, task designs and data interpretations are informed by parallel work using single neuron behavioural electrophysiology. Our projects benefit from collaborations with experimental psychologists and behavioural economists in Cambridge and abroad, including Peter Bossaerts from Caltech, Pasadena. We combine the candidate's own ideas with the demands of the grants. Planned projects involve probability, risk, economic utility and other decision variables, and social cooperation and inequity. We have access to four Siemens Trio 3T scanners. For details on our group, see http://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/staff/schultz/. We seek candidates with published experience in human neuroimaging. Additional knowledge in behavioural economics, primate behavioural neurophysiology or computational neuroscience would be an asset, as is experience with quantitative testing in controlled behavioural tasks, advanced statistics including multivariate classifiers, reinforcement model-based regressions or Bayesian updating. However, training will be provided in all areas necessary for successful completion of the project. We appreciate excellent social and writing skills. The initial deadline for applications is November 15, 2012, although the search will continue until the appropriate candidate has been identified. Start date is flexible. Initial appointments will be for 2 years, with consideration for prolongation. The salary will be on the standard University scale in the range of £27,578 to £35,938 depending on previous research experience. Applications should include CV, list of publications, half page description of research experience related to the projects stated above including experience in neuroimaging, quantitative behavioural testing and computer programming, a half page description of research interests, and contact details of two referees. Please apply to Prof Wolfram Schultz, Department of Physiology, Development& Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK, ws234(a)cam.ac.uk.