Jobs and Studentships

Research Assistant in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Anxiety

Applications are invited for a Research Assistant to support an ambitious programme of research investigating the mechanisms through which common treatments alleviate anxiety in humans. The post holder will be based in the Prediction and Learning Lab (www.lawsonlab.co.uk) within the Department of Psychology, led by Professor Rebecca Lawson.

This is a full-time role, and the successful candidate must be able to attend the department on-site five days per week as required.

The position is funded by a Wellcome Mental Health Award and focuses on testing the hypothesis that commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medications, and psychological therapy, reduce anxiety by altering how uncertainty is processed in the brain. The project combines pharmacological interventions within an experimental medicine framework with advanced behavioural, eye-tracking, and ultra-high-field (7 Tesla) MRI methods to deliver mechanistic insights with clinical relevance.

The Research Assistant will work closely with the Principal Investigator and a team of postdoctoral researchers to support all aspects of the project. Responsibilities will include preparing and managing ethics applications, coordinating with clinical and research collaborators, recruiting, scheduling and testing participants, collecting behavioural, eye-tracking and neuroimaging data, administering clinical assessments, organising and archiving datasets, contributing to data analysis, and providing general research support as required.

The ideal candidate will be highly organised, professional, and self-motivated, with excellent attention to detail and strong time management skills. They will have a demonstrated track record of supporting complex human participant research, ideally within clinical, cognitive, or neuroimaging settings.

The post holder will be embedded within a highly collaborative research environment and will interact with neuroscientists working across multiple scales and species. This network offers exceptional opportunities for cross-disciplinary training in cutting-edge methods spanning behavioural, cognitive, and computational neuroscience.

The position is available from March 2026.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance, with the possibility of extension subject to funding.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to: Professor Rebecca Lawson (email: rl337@cam.ac.uk)

Please quote reference PJ48616 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

A post-doctoral Research Associate position in Neurocomputation is available to work with Prof Zoe Kourtzi at the Adaptive Brain Lab, Univ of Cambridge, UK (http://www.abg.psychol.cam.ac.uk).

Are you passionate about uncovering the neural mechanisms that support learning and brain plasticity? Join our cross-disciplinary team at the forefront of neuroscience and computational science.

We are seeking a talented, dynamic Post-doctoral Researcher with expertise in multimodal neuroimaging and/or computational modeling to contribute to an ambitious research programme investigating the role of brain network dynamics in adaptive behaviour.

About the Role

You will work on cutting-edge projects combining:

• Ultra-high field brain imaging (7T structural and functional MRI, MR Spectroscopy)
• Electrophysiology (EEG)
• Neuromodulation approaches (TMS, tDCS, TUS)
• Neurogenetics
• Computational modelling (machine learning, reinforcement learning)

Our research bridges scales (local circuits to global networks) and species (humans, mice) to uncover the neurocomputations underlying learning and adaptive behaviour.

What We Offer

• Integration into a cross-disciplinary international team of leading experts
• Access to state-of-the-art methodologies, including ultra-high field MRI, neurotechnology, AI-guided modeling expertise
• Multi-disciplinary training at the interface of neuroscience, genetics and computational science
• Opportunities for exchange visits, workshops, and retreats across our collaborative network

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance. There is the possibility of a further 2 year extension.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

About You

• PhD (or submitted) in Neuroscience, Genetics, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
• Strong background in multimodal neuroimaging, neuromodulation techniques, cognitive studies
• Excellent analytical and programming skills (Matlab, Python)
• Experience with machine learning, reinforcement learning, or related modelling approaches
• Collaborative mindset and enthusiasm for team work and innovation

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge cross-disciplinary research supported by the Wellcome Trust, with access to cutting-edge technology and training opportunities.

Apply now and help us advance the science of learning and brain plasticity.

Please quote reference PJ48441 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.