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<p>We are looking for a for a Research Fellow in human motion
sequencing, for an ERC-funded research project "Action selection
under threat - the complex control of human defence" led by Dr
Dominik Bach (<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="bachlab.org">bachlab.org</a>).<br>
<br>
The overarching goal of the project is to understand the
cognitive-computational control of human motor behaviour under
acute, immediate threat. We investigate this in an immersive
virtual reality (VR) environment, in which people can move to
avoid a large number of different threats. As part of this
project, the candidate will conduct full-body motion capture
recordings, recover kinematics and dynamics, and structure the
ensuing trajectories using hierarchical statistical models
incorporating movement mechanics. We want to find out how motor
primitives and their sequences are shaped by threat features and
by the cognitive mechanisms that they engage. For more background,
see references below.<br>
</p>
<p>The post is based in London UK, at the Max Planck UCL Centre for
Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research (<a href="www.mps-ucl-centre.mpg.de/" class="" moz-do-not-send="true">www.mps-ucl-centre.mpg.de</a>), which is
part of the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk">fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk</a>)
at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, a world-class research
environment.<br>
</p>
<p>Applicants should have (or be close to obtaining) a PhD in
machine-learning, robotics, computer science, motor science,
biomechanics, computational neuroscience, or a related area, by
the agreed start date of the position. Experience with motion
capture, inverse kinematics and dynamics (in humans or robots),
movement trajectory analysis and structuring are essential. Strong
background in contemporary machine-learning and applied statistics
is essential, as are solid mathematical skills and good general IT
and software development knowledge. Familiarity with virtual
reality and/or human/animal defensive behaviour would be
desirable. <br>
<br>
The post is funded from Autumn 2020 for 3 years in the first
instance. Starting salary on the UCL salary scale, £35,328 -
£42,701 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance, superannuable.
Closing date is 24. June 2020. You should apply for this post
through UCL's online recruitment system – bit.ly/2LYRH64.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed remotely in early-mid
July. <br>
</p>
<p>Applicants may contact Dr Dominik Bach directly (email:
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:d.bach@ucl.ac.uk">d.bach@ucl.ac.uk</a>) for further information.</p>
<p>References:</p>
<p><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://bachlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Bach-Dayan-2017-NRN-AlgorithmsForSurvival.pdf">Bach
& Dayan (2017) Nature Reviews Neurosciences</a></p>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0603-9" moz-do-not-send="true">Korn & Bach (2019) Nature Human
Behaviour</a></p>
<p>Please circulate - apologies for cross-posting. <br>
</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
-----------------------
Dominik R Bach MBBS PhD
Principal Research Fellow
MPCUCL & WCHN, University College London
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://bachlab.org">http://bachlab.org</a> | @bachlab_cog </pre>
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