Research Support Assistant - MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit - Ref BC/306
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
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.
Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.
We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
This opportunity is closed to applications.