Neural mechanisms supporting learning and decision making in humans (GarrettN_U22PSY)

Dr Neil Garrett is recruiting a PhD student to investigate the processes that underpin learning and decision making in the human brain. This opportunity should appeal to students interested in neuroeconomics, computational psychiatry, behavioural economics and reinforcement learning.

The student will investigate how the brain integrates information it receives (e.g., a positive COVID test result), how the parameters of these learning processes determine expectations about the future (e.g., how long do I expect to live?), impacts the actions we choose to take (e.g., whether to explore a new career opportunity or not), vary when we come under threat (e.g., a pandemic) and relate to symptoms that emerge in clinical disorders (e.g., depression). The project will incorporate a mixture of behavioural experiments (in person and online), computational modelling and functional neuroimaging.

Applications are invited from strong and motivated candidates, committed to open and transparent science. Interested students can have a background in *any* relevant subject (for example – this is by no means intended as an exhaustive list – Psychology, Computer Science and Economics). Candidates from social and demographic groups that are underrepresented at PhD level are really encouraged to apply.

Those interested should, in the first instance, contact Dr Garrett by email ([Email Address Removed]).

For more information on the supervisor for this project, please visit the UEA website www.uea.ac.uk 

The start date is 1 October 2022

Entry Requirements: Acceptable first degree 2:1 in Psychology, Economics, Computer Science, Neuroscience or cognate subject. Research Methods Masters in Psychology, or equivalent qualification.