Research Assistant/Associate in Computational Neurology

Salary: 

Research Assistant: £31,396 to £32,982 per annum

Research Associate: £33,966 to £44,263 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: 20 October 2023

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the CNNP Lab, School of Computing, Newcastle University as a Research Assistant/Associate to work on the interdisciplinary project “Leveraging universal fractal geometry to develop new AI for neuroimaging”. 

The project will develop new AI tools for medical imaging in neurological conditions. The key novelty of the AI will be its ability to detect subtle changes to the complex folded brain shape using fractal geometry. Your main role as the postholder will be to drive the development of this new AI tool, engage with a wide network of stakeholders, and explore new avenues for medical applications, such as dementia, epilepsy, autism, mood disorders, etc.

The CNNP Lab is dedicated to research in neuroscience, neurology and psychiatry using computational modelling and machine learning approaches. We strive for the highest quality in research, and we are committed to developing individuals to their best potential in a supportive, inclusive, diverse, and engaging environment. We therefore encourage applications from the widest community and provide equal opportunities in our recruitment processes.

The position is available on a full time, fixed term basis, to start in October and is tenable for 18 months. 

To apply, please complete an online application and upload a plain text copy of your CV and cover letter only. In your cover letter, you should evidence how you meet or exceed the essential requirements for the role. Please note, any other ‘Additional Document’ you upload may not be received by the reviewing panel. 

For more information about the project, please contact Dr. Yujiang Wang (yujiang.wang@ncl.ac.uk).

For more information about the CNNP Lab, please click here

Key Accountabilities

•    To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications
•    To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences
•    To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator
•    To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals
•    To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator
•    To work with the Principal Investigator and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio
•    To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator and offering creative or innovative solutions
•    To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration
•    To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects
•    To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate
•    To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students
•    To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect
•    To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline

The Person 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 
•    You will have substantial experience in processing structural MRI data, and ideally some experience in analysing brain morphology data
•    You will have experience of at least one of the following analysis techniques (multiple preferred): Normative modelling, dimensionality reduction techniques, machine learning/AI, dynamic model inference (e.g. state space modelling), statistics
•    Experience in conducting high quality academic research
•    Evidence of being able to conduct research in the area of medical data analysis or modelling applied to neurology
•    Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked interdisciplinary journals
•    Demonstrable ability to present research papers at national/international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community
•    Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career

Desirable
•    A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career
•    Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics
•    Evidence of experience in contributing to collaborative research projects

Attributes and Behaviour

•    Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings
•    Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines
•    Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to present as a representative of the lab at national and international scientific events 
•    Demonstrate strong mathematical and computational abilities
•    Demonstrate excellent programming ability in languages such as MATLAB or Python
•    Excellent communication skills across multiple disciplines
•    Excellent academic writing skills
•    Demonstrable commitment to the values of equality and diversity in all aspects of your work

Desirable
•    Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research
•    Ability to set research goals, be self-motivated and proactive
•    A keen eye for visual presentation, software design, and in writing clear, concise, elegant code
•    Strong interest in interdisciplinary research

Qualifications

•    A PhD awarded (or nearing completion) in Computer Science, Mathematics/Statistics, Physics, Neuroscience or a project-relevant subject
 

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 silver 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.

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

Requisition ID: 26111