Wednesday, May 8, 2013

[Comp-neuro] Postdoctoral Fellow, Mechanisms of Decision Confidence & Metacognition

A postdoctoral position to study the mechanisms of confidence and other forms of metacognition is available in the Systems Neuroscience Laboratory (Principal Investigator, Zachary Mainen) at the Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme (CNP, Lisbon, Portugal).

The position will be responsible for the design and analysis of psychophysical (behavioral) experiments in human subjects as well the development of computational models used to guide and interpret these results.

Candidates with a quantitive background (applied mathematics, physics, computer science) and with some experience in neuroscience, especially in behavioral experiments, are particularly sought. Experience in human psychophysics is also highly desirable, but not required.

The overall project aims to develop and test models of the neuronal mechanisms of decision confidence and other forms of metacognition. Decision confidence is the ability to report or use estimates of the likelihood of the outcome of a decision based on the same evidence used to make the decision. Formal models of decision confidence can be derived in multiple ways, for example from elementary signal detection and random walk models of decision processes. It is also considered a form of metacognition and has been linked to perceptual awareness. Our laboratory has pioneered investigation into mechanisms of decision confidence in rats (Kepecs et al., 2008; 2012) and is now extending those studies both in rodents and in human subjects. The project also includes collaborations with the labs of Rui Costa (CNP) and Mariano Sigman (University of Buenos Aries).

The position offers a competitive salary based on qualifications and experience. The prospective start date is July 1, 2013.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, CV and contact information of 2 references to zmainen@neuro.fchampalimaud.org.

The Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme (CNP) is centered on establishing links between nervous system function of behavior. The CNP aspires to help scientists to reach their full creative potential and to promote collective achievements beyond those reachable by individual scientists or laboratory groups through cooperation and exchange but without sacrificing independence and diversity of thought. The institute is located at the beautiful waterfront of Lisbon, Portugal. Lisbon offers a sunny Atlantic-Mediterranean climate, affordable cost of living, and vibrant culture, with good public transportation, international schools and convenient housing options both within and outside the city center. English is the official language of the institute.

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Zachary F. Mainen, Ph.D.

Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme
Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown
Av. Brasília s/n
1400-038 Lisbon
Portugal

+351 210 480 100
zmainen@neuro.fchampalimaud.org
www.neuro.fchampalimaud.org

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