Research Associate in Computational Vision Science

Role Description

Department

The Department of Physics at the University of York is seeking to appoint a post-doctoral fellow (as soon as possible from August 2022) in computational vision science under the UKRI ‘Building Collaboration in the Physics of Life’ scheme. The project, A fresh look at visual sampling: (PhysFEM) How are fixational eye-movements optimised?  Is in collaboration with Oxford University Department of Experimental Psychology and US partner at the University of Pennsylvania).

Role

PDRA PhysFEM/2 – Building a computational model of fixational eye movements and their consequences for vision: You will develop computational models of fixational eye movements (FEMs), encapsulated in high-quality coding, within the opensource ISETBio framework, which encapsulates the many precise computations that have been identified as critical steps in vision (http://isetbio.org). Your development of ISETBio will provide a computational tool to understand the consequences of FEMs and their interaction with later processing stages. You will work closely with Prof. Tom McLeish and a theoretical-physics research fellow, with the University of Oxford team of Prof. Hannah Smithson, and with collaborator Prof. David Brainard (University of Pennsylvania). After refinement and validation, your additions to ISETBio (administered from U. Penn.) will be in the public domain, helping to promote new insights and theoretical ideas about biological vision.

The role offers advanced interdisciplinary training: locally, across the UK Physics of Life Network, and internationally. You will have the opportunity to develop research management expertise and to supervise student sub-projects.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• A first degree and PhD in relevant disciplines
• Knowledge of relevant science, techniques and research methodologies in computational vision science, physics and/or biology as appropriate to the post and proven ability to apply that knowledge in detailed research contexts.  
• Experience of high-quality scientific coding.
• Ability / skills to work in a strongly interdisciplinary team, disseminate research results professionally in written and oral form, develop your own research ideas and questions, communicate within and outside the research team, and mentor and lead others.
• Experience of carrying out independent and collaborative research, publishing your research, and of working individually and in a team.

For informal enquiries: For an informal discussion regarding this post/ project, please contact Prof Tom McLeish (York, Physics) on tom.mcleish@york.ac.uk, or Prof. Hannah Smithson (Oxford, Neuroscience) on hannah.smithson@psy.ox.ac.uk . For queries on the application or to learn about working in the Department of Physics at York contact phys-hr@york.ac.uk.

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We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

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