Research Assistant (Fixed-term)

Job Opportunities

Area
Psychology

Location
University Park

Salary
£32,080 to £35,608 per annum, depending on skills and experience. Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.

Closing Date
Tuesday 21 April 2026

Reference
SCI492126

We seek a predoctoral research assistant to join the Humphries’ group at the University of Nottingham on a BBSRC-funded project to study the neural basis of foraging, in collaboration with the groups of Matthew Apps (Birmingham) and Nathan Lepora (Bristol).

Whether choosing to leave one shop for another, switching TV programs, or seeking berries to eat, humans and other animals make endless stay-or-leave decisions, but how we make them is not well understood. The goal of this project is to find out if there is common cross-species decision algorithm for leaving and what that algorithm is.

You will create predictions for how foragers should vary in their stay-or-leave decisions for different types of decision algorithm. You will then get to test those predictions using data from humans and rodents tackling foraging tasks, to work out which algorithm best explains how foragers decide to leave.

You will have some experience in computational modelling of behaviour, such as decision-making models or reinforcement learning, and good programming skills in Matlab and/or Python. You will have completed an undergraduate degree or MSc in a quantitative discipline.

The Humphries’ group (?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.humphries-lab.org&module=jobs&id=3224309" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.humphries-lab.org&module=jobs&id=3224309" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.humphries-lab.org) is part of a major research centre in computational neuroscience at the University of Nottingham, which includes the teams of Professors Mark van Rossum (Psychology), Stephen Coombes (Mathematical Sciences), and Markus Kaiser (Medicine). Our group draws on and develop a wide range of computational approaches to data, including unsupervised machine learning, network theory, and dynamical systems theory.

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for a period of up to the 31st of August (this may be extended until October subject to funding extension). The post is available to start immediately. The post is full-time hours of 36.25 hours per week.

What we offer-

· A friendly, diverse, and supportive working environment

· A hybrid working arrangement with the blended approach of home and office working each week

· Generous holiday entitlement of 30 days (or pro rata) plus standard bank holidays and five university closure days including closure between Christmas and New Year.

· Our reward scheme grants bonuses of numerous values for excellent work

· We are committed to staff development through the provision of training, continued support, and career progression opportunities

· You will have access to a range of benefits and rewards, including fitness and health facilities, staff discounts, travel schemes and many more. To find out more about what we can offer you, follow the link to our benefits website

Please contact Professor Mark Humphries, mark.humphriesnottingham.ac.uk if you have further questions about this role. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

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Further details:

• Job Description/Role Profile

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