Face-research-list March 2015

face-research-list@lists.stir.ac.uk

3 participants
4 discussions

PhD Studentship: Adaptive perspectives on social signals within the human face

by Robert Ward

Hello, I am advertising to offer a fully-funded PhD studentship at Bangor University (UK/EU fees, stipend, travel and research expenses) starting in Oct 2015, to investigate social attributions to faces. The position would be most appropriate for someone who already has, or is currently enrolled in, an MSc in psychology or related area. A general description and link to the ad is below. As you can see, there is some deliberate flexibility for the student to shape the project topic. If you are interested, please contact me to discuss. The deadline for applications is 27 Feb. Thank you, Rob Professor Robert Ward Wolfson Centre for Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience School of Psychology Bangor University Bangor LL57 2AS http://psychology.bangor.ac.uk/ward http://www.bangor.ac.uk/psychology/postgraduate/studentships/human-face.php… Humans are both highly visual and highly social beings, and people are quick to make attributions of personality and other social traits on the basis of mere appearance. For the past few years my students and I have been investigating the accuracy of visually-based judgements from the face, and in a series of studies have found that these attributions can be surprisingly accurate, even when based on neutral "passport"-style photographs. Within such photographs is enough information to identify stable personality traits and aspects of mental health in strangers (e.g., papers from former PhD students: Kramer & Ward, 2010; Jones et al, 2012; Scott et al, 2013). Such findings raise a number of issues to be explored in this studentship. A key general issue is whether these facial cues to behaviour are part of an evolved signal system. Theories of evolved signal systems emphasise the co-evolution of the signal sender and receiver. For the system to remain stable, it must have benefits for both the sender and receiver. What adaptive benefits might there be for someone to signal their socially undesirable traits to others? Can facial signals be masked to deceive the receiver? For example, to what extent is signal disrupted by voluntary emotional expressions? A second general issue surrounds the signal content. That is, what is the facial information that observers use to identify social traits? Possibilities include subtle micro-expressions, postures, facial morphology, and more. Finally, what are the causal factors that might produce a joint influence on facial appearance and behaviour? Within the context of these general issues, there is scope for the student to shape the project aims and focus. Rhif Elusen Gofrestredig 1141565 - Registered Charity No. 1141565 Gall y neges e-bost hon, ac unrhyw atodiadau a anfonwyd gyda hi, gynnwys deunydd cyfrinachol ac wedi eu bwriadu i'w defnyddio'n unig gan y sawl y cawsant eu cyfeirio ato (atynt). Os ydych wedi derbyn y neges e-bost hon trwy gamgymeriad, rhowch wybod i'r anfonwr ar unwaith a dilewch y neges. Os na fwriadwyd anfon y neges atoch chi, rhaid i chi beidio a defnyddio, cadw neu ddatgelu unrhyw wybodaeth a gynhwysir ynddi. Mae unrhyw farn neu safbwynt yn eiddo i'r sawl a'i hanfonodd yn unig ac nid yw o anghenraid yn cynrychioli barn Prifysgol Bangor. Nid yw Prifysgol Bangor yn gwarantu bod y neges e-bost hon neu unrhyw atodiadau yn rhydd rhag firysau neu 100% yn ddiogel. Oni bai fod hyn wedi ei ddatgan yn uniongyrchol yn nhestun yr e-bost, nid bwriad y neges e-bost hon yw ffurfio contract rhwymol - mae rhestr o lofnodwyr awdurdodedig ar gael o Swyddfa Cyllid Prifysgol Bangor. This email and any attachments may contain confidential material and is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this email. If you are not the intended recipient(s), you must not use, retain or disclose any information contained in this email. Any views or opinions are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of Bangor University. Bangor University does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or 100% secure. Unless expressly stated in the body of the text of the email, this email is not intended to form a binding contract - a list of authorised signatories is available from the Bangor University Finance Office.

9 years, 8 months

postdoc position in cognitive neuroscience

by Katharina von Kriegstein

A Postdoctoral Research Fellow position is available at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI-CBS) in Leipzig, Germany. The objective of the postdoctoral research project is to use high-resolution functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to understand the role of subcortical sensory structures in human perception and communication. The MPI-CBS is an internationally leading centre for cognitive and imaging neuroscience equipped with a 7.0 T MRI scanner, several 3.0 T MRI scanners, a 306 channels MEG system, TMS, tDCS, several EEG suites, and eye-tracking labs. All facilities and data analyses are supported by experienced IT specialists and physicists. Besides an excellent infrastructure, our institute offers an international and friendly environment with researchers from diverse backgrounds. The postdoc will be member of the group "Neural Mechanisms of Human Communication" led by Katharina von Kriegstein. The candidates must have a PhD (or equivalent) in neuroscience, experimental psychology, biology, or a related field, and should be able to demonstrate a consistently outstanding academic record, including publications. The ideal candidate will have expertise in the acquisition and analysis of neuroscientific data. Prior experience with high-resolution functional or structural MRI is preferred. The starting date for this position is flexible. Initially for two years, the position offers the possibility of extension for up to four years. Salary depends on experience and is based on regulations of the Max Planck Society. To apply, please include all documents in one PDF-file in the following order: CV, contact information for two references, a brief statement describing your personal qualifications and future research interests, copies of up to three of your publications. Applications with the subject heading "HC15PD" should be sent via email to: personal(a)cbs.mpg.de. The deadline for application submission is 17 April 2015. Contact for informal enquiries regarding the post: Prof. Dr. Katharina von Kriegstein (kriegstein(a)cbs.mpg.de). For more information about the group see: http://www.cbs.mpg.de/groups/misc/humcomm. The MPI-CBS is an equal opportunities employer, committed to the advancement of individuals without regard to ethnicity, religion, gender, or disability. --- Katharina von Kriegstein Max Planck Research Group Leader Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Stephanstr. 1A, 04103 Leipzig, Germany Professor of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience Humboldt University of Berlin Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489 Berlin, Germany Phone +49 (0) 341-9940-2476 Fax +49 (0) 341-9940-2448 http://www.cbs.mpg.de/groups/misc/humcomm

9 years, 9 months

grtools: Analyze perceptual independence using general recognition theory (a.k.a. multidimensional signal detection theory) in R

by Fabián Soto

Dear colleagues, We have developed a new R package, called grtools, that can be used to analyze psychophysical data to determine the independence and separability of perceptual dimensions. The analyses use general recognition theory (GRT; a.k.a multidimensional signal detection theory) to test for perceptual independence and separability while controlling for the influence of decisional processes. We designed the package to be easy to use for non-experts. Thus, full analyses can be performed through only a couple of commands. grtools provides functions for the following analyses: 1. Model-based analyses of separability and independence using the GRT-wIND (GRT with INdividual Differences) model of identification data. 2. Model-based analyses of separability and independence using traditional GRT models of identification data. 3. Summary statistics analyses (i.e., Kadlec's MSDA) of identification data. 4. Summary statistics analyses of data from the Garner filtering task. For more information and instructions on how to install the package, please visit the following page: https://github.com/fsotoc/grtools Best, Fabian A. Soto F. Gregory Ashby -- Fabian A. Soto Postdoctoral Researcher Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93106 E-mail: fabian.soto(a)psych.ucsb.edu Website: http://people.psych.ucsb.edu/soto/fabian/

9 years, 9 months

Postdoctoral position on face and object recognition

by Olivia Cheung

*Postdoctoral position on face and object recognition* A postdoctoral research position is open at the Objects and Knowledge Laboratory, headed by Dr. Olivia Cheung, at New York University Abu Dhabi. The postdoctoral researcher will carry out behavioral and fMRI experiments on human object/face/letter recognition. Potential research projects include, but are not limited to, investigations of the influences of experience and conceptual knowledge on recognition processes. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, or a related field, and should possess strong programming skills (e.g., Matlab). Prior experience with neuroimaging or psychophysical techniques is preferred. The initial appointment is for up to two years with the opportunity of renewal for additional years. Starting date is flexible, preferably during summer/fall 2015. The Objects and Knowledge Laboratory is part of the rapidly growing Psychology division at New York University Abu Dhabi. The lab is located in the new campus on Saadiyat Island (Abu Dhabi’s cultural hub), and has access to the state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities (including MRI, MEG, and TMS). Apart from a generous salary, the postdoctoral researchers will receive housing and other benefits. More information about living in Abu Dhabi can be found here: http://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/campus-life/residential-education-and-housing/livin… Interested individuals should email a curriculum vita, a brief statement of research interests, the expected date of availability, and contact information of two referees to Olivia Cheung (olivia.cheung(a)nyu.edu). Informal inquires regarding the positions, university, or area, are encouraged.

9 years, 9 months

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Face-research-list March 2015