Overview
Research Assistant in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Anxiety. Applications are invited for a Research Assistant to support an ambitious programme of research investigating the mechanisms through which common treatments alleviate anxiety in humans. The post holder will be based in the Prediction and Learning Lab (www.lawsonlab.co.uk) within the Department of Psychology, led by Professor Rebecca Lawson.
This is a full-time role, and the successful candidate must be able to attend the department on-site five days per week as required.
The position is funded by a Wellcome Mental Health Award and focuses on testing the hypothesis that commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medications, and psychological therapy, reduce anxiety by altering how uncertainty is processed in the brain. The project combines pharmacological interventions within an experimental medicine framework with advanced behavioural, eye-tracking, and ultra-high-field (7 Tesla) MRI methods to deliver mechanistic insights with clinical relevance.
Responsibilities
* Work closely with the Principal Investigator and a team of postdoctoral researchers to support all aspects of the project.
* Prepare and manage ethics applications, coordinate with clinical and research collaborators, recruit, schedule and test participants, and collect behavioural, eye-tracking and neuroimaging data.
* Administer clinical assessments, organise and archive datasets, contribute to data analysis, and provide general research support as required.
Ideal candidate
* Highly organised, professional, and self-motivated, with excellent attention to detail and strong time management skills.
* Demonstrated track record of supporting complex human participant research, ideally within clinical, cognitive, or neuroimaging settings.
Context and training
The post holder will be embedded within a highly collaborative research environment and will interact with neuroscientists working across multiple scales and species. This network offers exceptional opportunities for cross-disciplinary training in cutting-edge methods spanning behavioural, cognitive, and computational neuroscience.
Details
The position is available from March 2026. For the post holder, this role has the possibility of undertaking PhD study. Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance, with the possibility of extension subject to funding.
How to apply
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to: Professor Rebecca Lawson (email: rl337@cam.ac.uk)
Please quote reference PJ48616 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
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