Research Support Assistant - MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit - Ref BC/306

Open Date
31/08/2016, 00:00
Close Date
21/09/2016, 23:55
MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit
The MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (CBSU) is an internationally renowned institute for research in cognitive neuroscience.
UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org

MRC - 5
Cambridge
£23,597 - £25,463
Fixed Term
Science
Full Time
6 months

Overall purpose:

The main purpose of this fixed-term position is to test the effects of a new drug on hearing by cochlear implant (CI) patients. The project will involve performing psychophysical tasks with the patients. Some checking, calibrating, and possibly programming of the stimuli will be involved. The position offers the opportunity to learn how to perform direct stimulation experiments with CI patients and to evaluate a possible means for improving their hearing. The post is funded by a grant from Autifony Therapeutics Ltd. Depending on the skills of the appointed person, the job may alternatively or additionally involve psychophysical auditory experiments with normal-hearing listeners.


Main duties / key responsibilities:

- Perform direct-stimulation psychophysical experiments with cochlear implant users

- Organisation of testing sessions; liaison with clinical colleagues and Autifony staff

- Calibration and checking of stimuli

- Experiments with normal-hearing participants


Working relationships:

The post-holder will be line managed by Dr R.P.Carlyon (Deputy Director, MRC CBU). Daily supervision will be provided by Dr John Deeks. The post-holder will also be expected to liaise with other members of Dr. Carlyon’s group (Dr. Hedwig Gockel & Dr. Alan Archer-Boyd). Liaison with clinicians in Cambridge, London, and Birmingham will be required

Education / Qualifications / Training required:

Essential:

Degree in Psychology or numerate discipline.

Experience with programming, calibrating, and executing auditory experiments with cochlear-implant, hearing-impaired, or normal-hearing listeners

Desirable:

Previous experience in programming, calibrating, and executing direct-stimulation cochlear implant experiments

Ph.D.


Previous work experience required:

Essential:

Experience with programming, calibrating, and executing auditory experiments with cochlear-implant, hearing-impaired, or normal-hearing listeners

Desirable:

Previous experience in programming, calibrating, and executing direct-stimuation cochlear implant experiments


Knowledge and experience:

Essential:

Knowledge of how cochlear implants work


Personal skills/behaviours/qualities:

Essential:

Numerate. Personable.

Desirable:

Demonstrated ability to work well in a team

 

The MRC is a great place to work and progress your career, be it in scientific research or the support functions.The MRC is a unique working environment where our researchers are rewarded by world class innovation and collaboration opportunities that the MRC name brings. The MRC is an excellent place to develop yourself further and a range of training & development opportunities will be available to you, including professional registration with the Science Council.

Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UKRI) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the MRC and UKRI on your CV in the future.

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This opportunity is closed to applications.