University of Edinburgh
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
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Grade UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum
CMVM / School of Neurological and Cardiovascular Sciences / Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research
Full-time: 35 hours per week
Fixed-term: 2 years
Where discovery never stops. Be part of something bigger.
The Opportunity:
Postdoctoral researcher sought for investigation into cortical predictive processing.
We are looking for a motivated postdoctoral researcher to conduct basic research into cortical and neuromodulatory computation in mice, by utilizing novel virtual reality tasks, alongside in vivo 2-photon calcium imaging and optogenetics.
You will conduct research aimed at investigating prediction error responses and computation performed by the cortex in behaving mice. This will involve developing novel virtual reality tasks for probing perception and learning and using 2-photon calcium imaging and optogenetics to record from and manipulate cortical circuit elements and assess their computational and behavioural roles.
Your skills and attributes for success:
- Appropriate degree with relevant post-graduate research experience. Usually a PhD (or PhD near completion) in Neuroscience/Physiology/Pharmacology or equivalent professional qualification and/or experience.
- Experience working with laboratory animals.
- Applicants must hold or be willing to obtain a Home Office Personal Licence (PIL) for working with mice.
- Experience with in vivo 2-photon imaging
- Good knowledge of cortical physiology and computation
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly, orally, and in writing
- Substantial programming experience (MATLAB, Python, LabView)
People have always been at the heart of our work. As part of the University, you are a part of our community. We are looking for people with drive, determination, and a passion for what they do. We are a place where everyone is welcome and offer a range of policies and benefits designed to support you in building the right meaningful/personalised flexibility for you.
A career with us has a range of other benefits that can be tailored to your lifestyle:
- Opportunities to develop new skills and broaden your experience
- Leading-edge research
- Opportunities for publication
- Working within one of the world’s leading universities
View the full job description https://uoe.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/jobdescriptionlibrary/IQAiLFT8ulnlS5hEeX6siluvAQmp2_UBmIBg-HezyjcAVDw (opens in a new browser tab)
How to apply
Please include the following documents in your application:
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- CV
- Cover letter, detailing why you wish to join the lab.
If you application is selected, you will be invited to an online interview.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
- A competitive salary.
- An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
- To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
- Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.
The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 4th August 2026.
Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone.
Interviews are expected to be held in late August 2026.
As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
School of Neurological and Cardiovascular Sciences
We host research and postgraduate training in neuroscience, cardiovascular, metabolic and psychiatric research. We are one of six schools in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and are home to the Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research.
Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research
Our institute fosters collaborative neuroscience, cardiovascular, metabolic and psychiatric research to tackle some of the world's most significant health challenges.
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Our research explores health and disease across the body and life course – from tiny changes in cells to the lived experience of patients. Together, we work to advance the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of major health conditions including heart disease, stroke, metabolic dysfunction, mental illness, dementia and neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
Empowered by genetics, advanced imaging, artificial intelligence and clinical trials, our research seamlessly connects discovery science with clinical care.
Our work is internationally acclaimed, achieving 4* and world-leading classifications for the majority of our research, health and wealth impacts and research papers in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 assessment, the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.
As part of driving progress in our core research areas, we host internationally leading research centres and state-of-the-art technologies:
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic
- British Heart Foundation (BHF) Centre of Research Excellence
- Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention | CPSP
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research
- Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility
- Edinburgh Imaging
- Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory
- Medical Research Council/British Hearth Foundation Centre of Research Excellence in Advanced Cardiac Therapies
- MS Society Edinburgh Centre for MS Research | MS Society
- Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre
- Patrick Wild Centre
- Row Fogo Centre for Research into Ageing and the Brain
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB)
- UK Dementia Research Institute at Edinburgh
- UKRI Hub for Metabolic Psychiatry
Our institute community
Our researchers drive cutting-edge science, enabling our students and working hand in hand with our expert technical and professional services colleagues. We are committed to creating a collaborative, inclusive and welcoming community, where everyone feels supported, empowered and inspired to achieve their best.
Training and education
We offer a wide range of postgraduate training opportunities. Students learn from world-class researchers, access outstanding facilities and get support to develop. Our graduates go on to successful careers in academia, research, healthcare and industry worldwide. Our colleagues are also leading contributors to undergraduate programmes.
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