Cognitive brain research on multisensory research: examining the function of touch and its relationship with other senses

Applications are invited for a Ph.D student position on cognitive neuroscience research on touch. We touch familiar objects from cups to companion animals. What neural system allows us to feel and know these objects by touch? Why and how do we feel good or bad by contact with others and companion animals? How blind individuals become excel at reading Braille? Unlike vision which has been intensively investigated, many interesting questions remain to be addressed in the field of touch.

The student will work on an interdisciplinary project that examines the function of touch (and its relationship with other senses) under the supervision of Prof. Ryo Kitada, Nanyang Technological University (please see http://touchlab.strikingly.com/). Relevant fields include experimental and cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, mechanical engineering and computational modelling. The keyword of the project can include Touch, Audition, Language, Material perception, Emotion, Blindness and Social cognition. The primary methodologies include behavioral and neuroimaging experiments on humans. The student will focus on one or two topics of the research dependent on their interests. Given the multidisciplinary nature of the research, this student will have opportunities to learn a wide range of research skills and knowledge, which would enhance their future career prospects.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate existing excellence in methodological skills required for the project, such as setting up experiments (programming, making device with engineers if necessary), statistical analyses, neuroimaging, and/or computational modelling. The candidate should also have a demonstrable interest in the topic and strong written and oral communication skills.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore is ranked 11th globally and placed 1st amongst the world’s best young universities. It now houses new neuroimaging facilities (MRI and MEG), making it an ideal place for conducting cognitive neuroscience studies. The successful candidate will join a thriving research environment with young faculty members and benefit from excellent support and resources from the School of Social Sciences.

Admission Requirements:
For PhD admission, a Master’s degree or good Bachelor Honours degree is required. Admission to Graduate by Research programme depends on the quality of the application as a whole, including the applicant’s academic record, relevant experience, and research proposal. Applicants will be interviewed by the subject graduate studies coordinator(s) for a holistic assessment of the applicants’ suitability for graduate studies. Note that subject areas may have subject-specific requirements.

http://www.sss.ntu.edu.sg/Programmes/Graduate/ProspectiveStudents/Pages/Apply-to-SSS.aspx

(1) English Proficiency Tests
For applicants whose mother tongue is not English, a good IELTS or TOEFL is needed. For applicants whose mother tongue is not English, a good IELTS or TOEFL is needed. The IELTS/TOEFL score must have been attained within 2 years prior to the date of application.Those who hold a degree from universities (must be at least 3 years of study) where English is the medium of instruction are exempted from the IELTS/TOEFL requirement.

(2) GRE
Applicants who graduated from foreign universities must have a GRE test score. The GRE score must have been attained within 2 years prior to the date of application. Applicants who have a foreign Bachelor’s degree and a local Master’s degree must have at least 4.0/5.0 CGPA for their Master’s degree to be considered for exemption from GRE.

(3) Research proposals
Your application should include a research proposal with up to 2 pages. It is expected that you understand the field that you plan to research and that you can identify a relevant and original research question. A research proposal can also provide an insight into the student’s ability to identify and develop an interesting research question.

(4) Reference letters

Note that the student intake can be more flexible in this position. Please contact PI if necessary.