Research Fellow Ref 10510
School/department: School of Life Sciences
Hours: Full time, part time hours considered. Requests for flexible working options will be considered (subject to business need).
Contract: fixed term for 24 months
Reference: 10510
Salary: starting at £35,333 to £42,155 per annum. Pro rata if part time.
Placed on: 11 January 2023
Closing date: 08 February 2023. Applications must be received by midnight of the closing date.
Expected Interview date: Shortly thereafter
Expected start date: 01 June 2023
Job description
The School of Life Sciences at the University of Sussex is at the forefront of research in the UK. In the recent Research Excellence Framework assessment (REF 2021), 100% of our Impact cases in Biological Sciences and Chemistry were rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. The School has received substantial recent University investment and is embarking on an exciting and extensive, muti-million pound refurbishment and improvement project.
A Research Fellow position is available in the laboratory of Tom Baden to investigate sensory changes underlying behavioural reprogramming during metamorphosis in African clawed frog Xenopus laevis. As the behavioural repertoire of animals changes throughout development, we hypothesise that processing of an identical sensory percept must change during metamorphosis in tandem with behavioural reprogramming.
We will investigate this by first characterising the onset of prey-capture behaviour in X.laevis tadpoles and employing video tracking of freely behaving animals while presenting relevant stimuli. That will follow by recordings of neuronal activity in primary visual areas of the frog in response to prey-capture inducing stimuli throughout onset of this behaviour.
We are a very active research group located in the Neuroscience Centre, which also houses a number of other groups using imaging to study neural circuits involved in sensory processing (http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sussexneuroscience/).
More about the laboratory and our previous work can be found at https://badenlab.org. Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be made to Tom Baden (t.baden@sussex.ac.uk).
The School of Life Sciences is committed to increasing the diversity of its staff and providing an inclusive working environment. The School currently holds an Athena SWAN Silver Award, has developed a Race Equity Action Plan and hosts an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion working group.
Applications are particularly welcomed from Black and minority ethnic candidates, and women, trans and non-binary candidates, who are under-represented in the School of Life Sciences.
Applications to posts from candidates who wish to work part-time or as job-sharers are welcome.
The University offers various schemes to provide real benefits to parents, these can be found at Family Friendly Policies
The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
You can find out more about our values and our EDI Strategy, Inclusive Sussex, on our webpages.
Download job description and person specification Ref 10510 [PDF 204.76KB]
The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed from the UK.
Visa Sponsorship Queries:
This role has been assigned an eligible SOC code and meets the salary requirements for Skilled Worker Sponsorship if full time. Please consult our Skilled Worker Visa information page for further information about Visa Sponsorship.
Please note that this position may be subject to ATAS clearance if you require visa sponsorship.
How to apply
Download our academic application form [DOC 199.50KB] and Personal Details and Equal Opportunities Form [DOC 119.50KB] and fill in all sections.
Email your completed application, and personal details and equal opportunities form, to lifescirecruitment@sussex.ac.uk
You should attach your application form and all documents to the email in PDF format (we are unable to accept applications as google.docs or .pages) and use the format job reference number / job title / your name in the subject line.
You can also send your application by post to Human Resources Division, Sussex House, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH.