Research Fellow

About the role

An exciting opportunity is available for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex and contribute to cutting-edge research on the neural basis of misophonia. This full-time position is available from January 2027 and will run until 30 September 2028.

Misophonia is a poorly understood condition in which specific everyday sounds, such as chewing, breathing, or tapping, trigger intense emotional and physiological reactions that can profoundly affect quality of life. This project aims to transform our understanding of misophonia by revealing how the brain processes and represents the acoustic and semantic properties of sounds, and how these neural representations differ between individuals with and without the condition.

Working as part of a world-leading research team studying anomalous perceptual experiences, you will contribute to a project funded by the Ream Foundation that combines cognitive neuroscience and advanced neuroimaging methods. The successful candidate will contribute independently to all stages of the project, publish high-quality research, and advance understanding of an important but underexplored condition.

About you

You will hold a PhD in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, audiology, or a related discipline, with expertise in sensory perception (e.g. hearing or vision), attention, or a closely related area. You will have experience in the acquisition and analysis of EEG data and a strong interest in understanding the neural mechanisms that give rise to perceptual experience.

The ideal candidate will be a motivated and collaborative researcher capable of working independently. You will be excited by the opportunity to contribute to an emerging field, work as part of an internationally recognised research team, and help advance our understanding of the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying misophonia.

About our Faculty

Our Psychology school has a rich history extending over half-a-century, marked from the start by our variety of research and courses. From the ground-breaking work of scholars such as Stuart Sutherland and Marie Jahoda, we've grown to cover all areas of psychology.

The School was formally established in 2009, bringing together academics across biological, cognitive, developmental, clinical and social psychology into one School. We've now entered the second decade of our existence as one of the largest and most influential academic communities for psychology in the country!

Anchored by our core values of kindness, integrity, inclusion, collaboration and courage, our research and teaching address societal challenges to create a better world.

Please find further information regarding the School of Psychology.

The School of Psychology is proud to hold a Silver Athena Swann Award.

Why work here

Our university is situated off the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs where you will enjoy everything that our 150-acre campus has to offer. We are accessible by public transport; Falmer train station is a five-minute walk to campus and several bus stops are located within campus. We also have dedicated cycling paths and encourage our staff to use these with our offering of a cycle to work scheme.

Sussex is a renowned, multi-accredited, research-led International University and this is only possible because of the people that work here. Whether you are a member of Faculty, part of a Professional Services team or a Student, it’s our people that make us great and we want you to be part of that.

Find out more about our reward and benefits package.

Find out about our equality, diversity and inclusion.

Further Key Information

Please contact Ediz Sohoglu (E.Sohoglu@sussex.ac.uk) for informal enquiries.

The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Eligibility

Visa Sponsorship Queries: This role has been assigned an eligible SOC code and meets the salary requirements for Skilled Worker Sponsorship if full time and appointed at Grade 7.4. Please consult our Skilled Worker Visa information page for further information about Visa Sponsorship.

The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK.

Salary

Grade 7 starting at £39,560 to £46,970 per annum, pro rata if part time.

Hours

Full-time considered up to a maximum of 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours) Requests for flexible working options will be considered (subject to business need).

Benefits

The benefits that you will receive from day one:

• Hybrid Working,
• Generous pension scheme,
• Purchase additional Annual Leave through our Scheme for a great home and work life balance,
• Discounts of public transport, Cycle to work Scheme, and special rates in hotels in Brighton and the Sussex region,
• Discounts on high-street shops through our Rewards partner, along with a Cash back Health Plan,
• Considerable discount on our on-site Gym Facilities because we care about our employees’ Health and Wellbeing.

Closing date

29-11-2026

Expected Interview Date

To Be Confirmed.

Expected Start Date

To Be Confirmed.

Fixed term Contract Duration

Not Applicable.