About the Role
Main Function
To contribute to research within specialist area of sleep engineering, carrying out time-series analyses that leads to the publishing of high-quality research.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
· To undertake research, e.g. by planning, preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcome of experiments.
· To perform analysis of EEG and heart rate data using in both time and frequency domains.
· To use wearable devices to measure sleep and deliver TMR, to develop protocols for running experiments with these devices.
· To collect and analyse EEG and behavioural data and assist in training junior members of the team to help with these tasks.
· To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
· To support and prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate
· To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field.
· Actively participate within the research group, communicating and presenting research at meetings, through publications and other recognised avenues as appropriate, ensuring information is communicated to internal and external partners
· To contribute and support research publications and presentations as required
· To analyse and communicate complex ideas, concepts and data using appropriate methods and packages
· To resolve issues and support colleagues in devising procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting
Other
· To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
· To ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties · To abide by the University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
· Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications and Education
1. MSc and/or Bachelors degree in Engineering/Computer science/Mathematics and statistics or related area.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2. Knowledge of research methods and techniques within some/all of the following specialist fields ·
EEG analysis (ERPs and Time Frequency), ideally with Matlab (Fieldtrip), Python.
3. Familiarity with coding in Matlab and python.
4. Familiarity with classical machine learning algorithms and linear classifiers.
Communication and Team Working
5. Proven communication skills, including presentation to various audiences
6. Excellent organisational and team-working skills
Other
7. Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team working within work.
Desirable Criteria
1. Experience of: ·
Analysing EEG signals in time and frequency domains with
fieldtrip/EEGlab/MNE-python is a plus.
Performing statistical analyses. ·
Analysis of sleep graphoelements (spindles and slow oscillations)
2. Proven ability to work without close supervision
3. Interest in pursuing a PhD.
About the Company
The School of Psychology has an exciting new Research Assistant position using time-series and machine learning classifiers to help in developing novel treatments for Depression and PTSD through the manipulation and identification of memory reactivation in sleep.
1. Targeted Memory Reactivation in sleep to alleviate PTSD. This post will focus on the triggering of negative memories in REM sleep in order to decouple the arousal and render them less upsetting
2. Targeted Memory Reactivation in sleep to alleviate Depression. This post will focus on the triggering of positive memories in sleep to improve low mood.
This is a 3 year positions and successful candidates will be encouraged to complete a PhD as a staff candidate during their employment.
This project is funded by the Wellcome Trust on a multi centre grant lead Penny Lewis, who specializes in the study of what sleep does to our memories, and is based at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). The post-holder join a team of researchers including Depression researcher (and Consultant Psychiatrist) Neil Harrison, PTSD specialist (and Consultant Psychiatrist) Jon Bisson at the Welsh National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH), and Tim Denison, who leads a team of research engineers who have developed the wearable device which we will use in this project.
Cardiff University’s Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) is one of the best equipped neuroscience institutes in Europe, housing 3 MRI scanners, including a 7T and a Connectom scanner, a MEG, EEG labs, a brain stimulation lab, and of course the state of the art sleep lab. The Welsh National Centre for Mental Health is right next door. The Neuroscience and Psychology of Sleep (NaPS) group is housed within CUBRIC, and conducts world-leading research on the impacts of sleep on cognitive processes.
Cardiff is a beautiful green city with easy access to the coast (beaches) and hills (Brecon Beacons and similar).
This post is part time (24 hours per week), fixed-term for a period of 3.5 years and available immediately. £32,332 to £34,980 per annum, pro-rata (Grade 5). It is not expected to appoint above the first point of the scale £32,332 per annum (pro-rata). This will be £22,172 per annum, for 24 hours per week.
Date advert posted: Friday, 24 May 2024
Closing date: Friday, 21 June 2024
Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published.