3489426JW - Research Fellow in Social Neuroscience and Leadership


Company:	University of Southampton
Salary:	£36,636 - £36,636
Hours:	Part-time
Location:	Southampton, SO17 1BJ
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	27 Aug 2026
Closing date:	3 Sept 2026

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Summary

Applications are invited for a Research Fellow to work on an interdisciplinary project examining the social neuroscience of leadership, feedback processing, and strategic interaction.

The project brings together social neuroscience, leadership research, and strategic management to examine how leaders detect errors, respond to feedback, adapt their behaviour, and coordinate with others during strategic interaction. The project will use EEG and hyperscanning methods alongside behavioural and naturalistic measures of social interaction.

The Research Fellow will support the development and piloting of EEG and hyperscanning paradigms for the project. Key activities will include developing and refining experimental tasks, preparing EEG protocols, supporting EEG data collection, developing preprocessing and analysis pipelines using MNE-Python, and contributing to the analysis of pilot EEG data. The post-holder will also support the development of behavioural coding approaches for social interaction and strategic decision-making. The role will additionally involve conducting literature reviews and contributing to a systematic review of hyperscanning and social interaction relevant to leadership and organisational settings.

Applicants should have a MSc degree or PhD in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, or a closely related discipline. Previous experience collecting and analysing EEG data is essential, as is experience using MNE-Python for EEG preprocessing and analysis. Applicants should also have experience using Python for experimental task programming and development, alongside experience with human experimental research and quantitative data analysis.

Experience with EEG hyperscanning, social neuroscience, social interaction paradigms, behavioural coding, or systematic reviews would be advantageous. Knowledge of leadership, organisational psychology, or strategic decision-making would also be desirable.

The post-holder will work with Dr Nicholas J. Kelley, School of Psychology, and Professor Ajit Nayak, Southampton Business School. The role offers an opportunity to contribute to a developing interdisciplinary programme at the intersection of social neuroscience, leadership, and organisational behaviour.

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Nicholas J. Kelley: n.j.kelley@soton.ac.uk

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