Computational Neuroscience: [Comp-neuro] 4 Fully-Funded PhD Studentships

I would like to invite applicants for my PhD Studentship and others, which are part of the new Cognition Institute at the University of Plymouth, UK. Applicants with a strong computational or cognitive neuroscience background are especially encouraged to apply for this position.

Project Title

Human Brain Basis of Mental Simulation for Decisions about Memory

Project Description

Mental simulation is a type of mental imagery that grounds cognition in perception, action, and mental states. Simulation has a central role in reasoning, language, and memory. However, the brain basis remains almost entirely unknown. In this project, electroencephalography, neuroimaging, and transcranial magnetic stimulation will reveal critical timing, anatomical, and causal evidence. Neurocomputational modeling of this evidence will explain how mental simulation in the human brain supports making decisions based on semantic and episodic memory.

Director of Studies

Haline E. Schendan

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4 Fully-Funded PhD Studentships in Cognitive Science & Psychology

Applications are invited for four, 3-year PhD studentships, funded by the School of Psychology. The studentships will commence 1^st October 2012.

Projects Available

One studentship will be on Human Associative Learning, supervised by Professor Chris Mitchell. Three further studentships will be available in any specialist areas of research supported by the School. Indicative PhD topics include visual perception, decision-making in medical and social contexts, mental imagery, embodied cognition and language, memory in children and adults, road safety, mechanisms of psychotherapy, and cultural differences in cognition. For a full list of proposed PhD topics and supervisors, please visit: http://psychology.plymouth.ac.uk/research/funded-phd-studentships/

School of Psychology

Successful applicants will be part of a large, vibrant, highly collaborative, interdisciplinary community. In the 2008 RAE 34.5 members of staff from the School were submitted, making Plymouth the 12th largest research School of Psychology in the UK. 85% of our research was rated at international standard. Our PhD students are members of the Plymouth University Doctoral Training Centre in Social Sciences, which provides interdisciplinary training and networking opportunities for around 160 doctoral students.

Research in the School of Psychology is organised around the University Research Centre encompassing research excellence in Cognitive Neuroscience, Vision and Action, Social Psychology, Language Development, Thinking and Reasoning, Memory and Imagery, Health and Well Being, and Human Factors. State-of-the art facilities include high-density, 64- and 128-channels of active EEG electrodes (passive amplification also available), TMS with stereotactic guidance, eye- and motor-tracking, neuro-computational modelling, and fMRI with multi-channel head coil.

For details of the School’s research activity, please visit http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/cbcb

Plymouth has often been voted 'best place to live in Britain', and has many exciting cultural and student activities, with beautiful surrounding countryside and coastline.

Eligibility

Applicants should be highly motivated and have (at least) a first or upper second class honours degree in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, or related discipline. A relevant MSc or MRes qualification is desirable. Applicants must have excellent research skills and excellent communication skills.

The studentships have a duration of 3 years and include full Home/EU tuition fees plus a research training support grant of £750 and stipend of £13,590 per annum. The studentships will only fully fund applicants who are eligible for Home/EU fees. Applicants normally required to cover overseas fees will have to cover the difference between the Home/EU and the overseas tuition fee rates (approximately £9,500 per annum).

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact potential supervisors directly. For general enquiries about doctoral study in the School of Psychology, please contact Professor Jackie Andrade (pgcoordinator@psy.plymouth.ac.uk). However, applications must be made in accordance with the details shown below.

For an application form and full details on how to apply, please visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/postgraduate. Applicants should send a completed application form along with a covering letter detailing their suitability for the studentship to Catherine Johnson, Faculty of Science and Technology Research Office, A108 Portland Square, Plymouth PL4 8AA or e-mail catherine.johnson@plymouth.ac.uk.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 13^th April 2012. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received an offer of a place by the end of May should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

PROJECT TOPICS AND SUPERVISORS

The psychology of human associative learning: Prof Chris Mitchell

Visual perception and the detection of cancer in mammograms: Dr William Simpson

Remembering the Past and Imagining the Future: Dr Catherine Deeprose

Children’s false memories: Dr Marina Wimmer

Medical decision-making in children and adolescents: Dr Michaela Gummerum

Neuropsychological study of embodied language: Dr Jeremy Goslin

Embodied cognition: affordance and the mirror neurone system: Prof Rob Ellis

Is Theory of Mind based on imagery of another person’s visual perspective? Dr Patric Bach

Human Brain Basis of Mental Simulation for Decisions about Memory: Dr Haline Schendan

Mental Imagery and Motivation: Prof Jon May

Understanding the relationship between driver characteristics and road safety: Dr Liz Hellier

Modulating visual mental imagery with neurostimulation: Dr Giorgio Ganis

The neuropsychology of reasoning: Dr Matt Roser

Memory, Forgetting, Inhibition: Prof Tim Perfect

Attributing Causation and Blame: Dr Clare Walsh

Infants’ strategies for locating the boundaries between spoken words: Dr Laurence White

Cultural and Situational Influences on Processing Style: Dr Natalie Wyer

An examination of the social organisation of problem-solving meetings in the Plymouth Community Justice Court: Dr Timothy Auburn

What makes all psychotherapies so effective? Dr Ben Whalley

………………………………………

Haline E. Schendan, Ph.D.

School of Psychology

Faculty of Science & Technology

Plymouth University

Drake Circus

Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA

United Kingdom

Office: Portland Square A208

Office Hours: W 11-12:00, F 12-13:00

011 +44 (0)1752 584804

Haline.Schendan@plymouth.ac.uk

Lecturer, Centre for Brain, Cognition, & Behaviour

Visiting Scientist, MGH Martinos Center

http://www.psy.plymouth.ac.uk/research/HESchendan/