Postdoctoral Researcher

Are you enthused by neurocognitive paradigms? Or psychiatric populations, including patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? If so, we have a fantastic research project for you to work on. 

Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking to appoint a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher to work on a project at The Vaghi Lab in the School of Psychological Sciences on a two-year contract. 

This exciting project will develop neurocognitive paradigms availing dense-sampling fMRI in a general population sample as well as psychiatric populations, including patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

The post is attached to a five-year grant awarded to Dr. Vaghi, from the Medical Research Council, entitled 'Precision Psychiatry for Compulsivity', and there is scope for input in design of research questions that fall within the remit of using dense-sampling fMRI in patients’ populations to understand mechanisms of dynamic fluctuations in cognition and symptoms over time.

As Postdoctoral Researcher, you will work independently and in collaboration with other members of the Vaghi Lab, joining a growing team of PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. You will also join a thriving research community in Psychology at Birkbeck, and you will be encouraged to build your own research networks within the department and at other institutions nearby.

You will participate in regular lab meetings, learn about diverse methodologies for the study of neurocomputational mechanisms in psychiatric populations and have the opportunity to attend international conferences annually.

More generally, Postdocs are expected to participate fully in lab life, attending regular meetings and collaborating with other lab members.

As a senior role in the lab, the ideal candidate will be mature, responsible and show readiness for academic leadership. You will also be expected to assist in the supervision of junior team members and will be encouraged to apply for independent research funding and become increasingly autonomous over the course of your tenure in the lab.

On completion of this post, it is envisioned you will have gained the organisational, technical and leadership skills necessary for making the transition to Principal Investigator of your own laboratory.

As Postdoctoral Researcher, you will:

• have experience in designing, running and analysing cognitive neuroimaging studies with human volunteers (specifically fMRI)
• be an early career neuroscientist - interested in connecting brain data to cognitive theories of compulsivity
• a full list of essential and desirable criteria are available in the job description pack. 

Applicants’ track records in research (e.g., of published papers, preprints, presentations) will be evaluated relative to their career stage.

If you have experience or interest in roles such as Research Fellow, Research Associate, or Academic Researcher, this Postdoctoral Researcher position could be the perfect fit for you, and we encourage you to apply for this role today. 

Salary and benefits:

£43,636 to £49,683 per annum. Grade 7 on the College's London Pay Scale which includes a consolidated London Weighting Allowance. 

Benefits of working at Birkbeck: a competitive salary and pension scheme, 31 days paid leave, flexible working arrangements, generous benefits in the HE sector, and being located in the heart of Bloomsbury, Euston, London.

Contract:
Fixed-term, two-year contract, full-time, (35 hours a week). Please submit a CV and statement for consideration. Flexibility/remote work offered. Closing date: Wednesday 30 April 2025, interview date: Friday 16 May 2025. Visa Sponsorship offered. 

Enquiries:
If you would like to know more about the role, please click on apply or contact Dr Matilde Vaghi Reader in Psychology at m.vaghi@bbk.ac.uk

If you have difficulty using the recruitment portal, please contact jobs@bbk.ac.uk providing your name and the job reference number of the position. While we are happy to respond to all informal enquiries, only formal applications through the online system will be considered - www.birkbeck.ac.uk/jobs

We welcome applicants from all sections of the community. The College is committed to improving the gender and cultural diversity of its workforce, holding an Athena SWAN award and operating Disability Confident & Mindful Employer schemes.