Research Fellow - AR3087DD

Start Date: 1 May 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter

Fixed Term: 36 months

Applications are sought for a committed Post-doctoral Research Fellow to work with the group led by Dr Daniela Balslev conducting research for an MRC-funded project entitled: The role of oculoproprioception in the neural control of ocular alignment: Understanding disease mechanisms in strabismus.  Co-Investigators and Partners are Prof Malinda Carpenter (School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews), Dr Alessio Fracasso (School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow) and Dr Nikki Hall (Children’s Orthoptic Unit, NHS Fife).

Strabismus (squint or crossed eyes) is one of the most common and debilitating eye disorders in childhood. Individuals with this condition cannot align the two eyes to look at the same object. To precisely control where we look, the brain has access to information about the rotation of each eye in the eye sockets. One source of such information is called proprioception. We ask whether the misalignment of the eyes in some types of strabismus might be caused by inaccurate proprioception. To answer this question, we will use eye tracking in 4- to 5-year-old children and functional magnetic resonance imaging/transcranial magnetic stimulation in adults.

The primary duties will be to: 

• Assess whether the sense of eye position is impaired in children with strabismus (using eye tracking with 4- to 5-year-olds)
• Investigate how the human brain coordinates the movement of the two eyes (using ultra-high field functional magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation with adults)

The successful applicant will have (or be near the completion of) a PhD in cognitive neuroscience or a related discipline and a strong interest in human vision or oculomotor control. You will already have experience with some of the following methods: eye tracking, behavioural data collection in young children, functional magnetic resonance imaging or transcranial magnetic stimulation, and will be willing to learn from the investigators those methods that you do not yet master.

The post is available for 36 months starting on 1 May 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Further details of the project can be found at https://danielabalslev.dk/strabismus-project and by contacting Dr Daniela Balslev (daniela.balslev@st-andrews.ac.uk). 

Employees of the University have access to a wide range of staff benefits including:

• Annual leave of 34 days, plus 5 public holidays
• Membership of the USS Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions
• A hybrid working environment, including partial homeworking where appropriate and a range of family friendly policies
• A range of wellbeing initiatives including membership to Peppy, a health application that connects staff to expert practitioners and personalized support on health matters.

Applications are particularly welcome from people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and people with other protected characteristics who are under-represented in research posts at the University.  

Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the St Andrews experience and form a central pillar of the University Strategy.  We strive to create a fair and inclusive culture as demonstrated through our commitment to diversity awards (Athena Swan, Carer Positive, LGBT Charter and Race Charters). We celebrate diversity by promoting profiles of BAME and LGBTIQ+ staff and by supporting networks including the Staff BAME Network; Staff with Disabilities Network; Staff LGBTIQ+ Network; and the Staff Parents & Carers Network.  Full details are available online: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/

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