Principal Research Associate Quantum

Salary: £58,225 to £67,468 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 22 June 2026

The Role

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Research Associate to work in the broad area of quantum information science and technology as applied to cognitive neuroscience. You will be based in the Biosciences Institute but will require working closely with the Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre. Newcastle’s Quantum Cognition group, led by Dr Barbara-Anne Robertson (Biosciences) and Dr Jonte Hance (Computing), has received funding from the UKRI Cross Research Council Responsive Mode: Quantum Emotions: Using the Quantum Formalism to explain temporal order effects in memory for emotional events. This project involves applying the quantum formalism to model experimental observations of human emotional memory performance and the neural systems that support it, to better understand both systems. You will play a critical role in shaping the leadership of the Quantum Cognition group by working closely with internal collaborators, external project partners (including at Nagoya University, Ritsumeikan University, and the National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, in Japan, and Linnaeus University, in Sweden), and new and developing external collaborators.

You will be an expert in design, collection, and analysis of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data with an interest and aptitude in applying these data to quantum-like tools. You will have leadership experience in project design and management to deliver key interdisciplinary aspects of the project where all team members from psychology and physics learn the fundamentals of neuroimaging. You will hold methodological and expert skills in Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE), as well as Equality Diversity and Inclusion, working with project partners, the project’s advisory group, and other stakeholders to ensure the translation of findings for societal benefit, and to shape future projects.

This post is full time, fixed term for a period of 2 years.

For informal enquires contact: Barbara-Anne Robertson (b.a.robertson@newcastle.ac.uk) and/or Jonte Hance (jonte.hance@newcastle.ac.uk)

Find out more about our Research Institutes here:

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/

Key Accountabilities

• Provide scientific and strategic leadership of the neuroimaging work package within the Quantum Emotions CRC grant, ensuring delivery of high-quality outputs and alignment with overall programme objectives
• Lead the design, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of neuroimaging data, ensuring methodological rigour and innovation
• Shape the strategic direction of the Quantum Cognition research group, contributing to its development, visibility, and long-term research agenda
• Lead interdisciplinary collaboration with physics and other partners to ensure the integration and feasibility of experimental findings within quantum-like modelling frameworks
• Provide leadership for PPIE and EDI activities, including the design, delivery, and integration of findings into the research programme
• Chair and coordinate stakeholder engagement activities, including with patients, public contributors, and academic partners, to ensure responsible research practices and maximise societal impact and future funding opportunities
• Take overall responsibility for ethical governance, including leading ethics submissions and ensuring compliance across the project
• Oversee and assure consistency of ethical and governance processes across the wider project
• Develop and sustain strategic internal and external collaborations, including building networks to support future research and funding opportunities
• Lead the preparation and delivery of high-quality research outputs, including publications in leading journals and presentations at national and international conferences
• Disseminate research findings and enhance the profile of the research programme through invited talks, conference contributions, and other appropriate channels
• Supervise and mentor postgraduate research students, research staff, and, where appropriate, undergraduate project students, contributing to their academic and professional development
• Provide academic leadership within the School/Institute, including collaboration with academic and professional services colleagues
• Lead the development and delivery of public engagement and impact activities, enhancing the visibility and societal relevance of the research
• Oversee project progress and performance, including monitoring milestones, managing risks, and implementing corrective actions to ensure successful and timely delivery
• Maintain and develop professional expertise and leadership capability, ensuring continued advancement in research methods, interdisciplinary approaches, and leadership practice

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Extensive expertise in functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), including the independent design, acquisition, and advanced analysis of neuroimaging studies
• In-depth knowledge of neuroimaging methodologies, analytical techniques, and best practice as applied to the field of quantum cognition, including ethical and reproducibility standards
• Experience applying the quantum formalism to investigations of neural function
• Demonstrated ability to develop, lead, and sustain an independent programme of research
• Strong and sustained publication record of high-quality, peer-reviewed outputs at national and/or international level, specifically a record of published neuroimaging experiments that employ slow event-related, rapid event-related, blocked, and time-resolved fMRI designs 
• Substantial record of published neuroimaging and behavioural experiments that investigate the domains of: attention, perception, emotion, memory, and age-related change in cognition
• Strong track record of securing research funding as Principal Investigator or equivalent, appropriate to career stage and discipline
• Experience of leading and delivering funded research projects, with responsibility for achieving objectives, managing timelines, and overseeing resources
• Ability to manage research resources effectively, including budgets, staff, and infrastructure
• Experience of leading and coordinating research teams, including interdisciplinary collaborations
• Track record of supervising and mentoring postgraduate research students and/or research staff
• Experience contributing to the peer review process for academic journals and/or funding bodies
• Evidence of regular dissemination of research findings at national and international conferences, including contributions beyond standard presentations (e.g. invited talks, session roles)
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and influencing skills, with the ability to build and sustain effective research partnerships
• Ability to contribute to teaching, training, and capacity-building activities

Desirable

• Strong international research profile
• Experience leading large or multi-institutional research projects
• Proven ability to develop external collaborations (academic, industry, interdisciplinary)
• Experience in public engagement or research impact activities
• Experience contributing to institutional strategy or governance
• Expertise or interest in quantum cognition
• Advanced experience across diverse fMRI paradigms

Attributes and Behaviour

• Self-motivated and proactive
• Ability to provide leadership in an interdisciplinary setting
• Ability to work with colleagues from a wide range of professional, research and public backgrounds and roles
• Ability to manage own workload and prioritise a complex set of responsibilities
• Willing to engage with public and professional bodies as stakeholders to ensure responsible and translatable research practice

Qualifications

• Hold a PhD in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, or a field related to memory that includes direct experience in cognition including memory processes.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 29447