Characterizing the behavioral and neural signatures of aphantasia University of Exeter in United Kingdom

This new full-time post is available from 01/03/2025 until 29/02/2028 on a fixed term basis.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.

The post

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the work of Dr Fraser Milton and Dr Ciro Civile. This ESRC funded post is available from 1/3/2025 for a fixed term of 3 years. The successful applicant will be responsible for the day-to-day running of a project characterising the behavioural and neural signatures of aphantasia – a phenomenon where people have an absence of mental imagery.

The post will include coordinating participant recruitment and having responsibility for data collection utilising a variety of approaches such as online data collection, in-person running of neuropsychological and behavioural tests, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

About you

The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or nearing completion) or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will be able to work to agreed timelines and milestones, have excellent interpersonal skills to coordinate activities with the other team members and participants, an enthusiasm for open science, and for communicating the results of the project to the general public in an accessible manner.

Applicants will have prior experience in a related area that includes behavioural testing and quantitative data analysis, as well as in programming experiments. Expertise in running and analysing fMRI/MRI studies would be desirable but not essential.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy.

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Further information

For further information please contact Fraser Milton by e-mail [email protected] .