Proposal for a Postdoctoral Fellowship at College de Franc

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Proposal for a Postdoctoral Fellowship


Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Perception et de l’Action
Collège de France, Paris

Understanding human navigation in large multi-floored environments

A Postdoctoral fellowship is available from October 2008 under the supervision of Professor Alain BERTHOZ. It is funded by an ElectricitΓ© de France grant, for up to three years.

Whereas several key results have been obtained on the cognitive strategies for 2D navigation, where one exploits maps and/or egocentric cues, very few data are available in the case of multi-floored environments, especially large industrial environments where workers have to navigate several floors connected by numerous vertical junctions like stairs and ladders.
The goal of the postdoctoral position is to design and lead experiments focused on the specific role of such vertical junctions when navigating large multi-floored environment. This can lead to a both fundamental research on brain cognitive strategies and full scale experiment in a real facility at ElectricitΓ© de France. The results of this research could also inspire a guiding system dedicated to navigating facilities for operators.

The appointee will have the opportunity to engage in exciting and innovative research on the neural basis of human navigation and spatial memory, using techniques including psychophysics on both virtual and real environments. It could even lead to functional MRI studies or tests on neurological or psychiatric patients.

Applicants should have a PhD in psychology or cognitive neuroscience, research experience within the broad project area, experience of programming 3D applications, and be able to demonstrate a consistently outstanding academic record, including publications. Excellent organisational and communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, are also required. You should be willing to work closely with collaborators like modellers, experimentalists or applied research teams from ElectricitΓ© de France.

International applications are welcome.

Locations:
Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Perception et de l’Action, UMR 7152
11, place Marcellin Berthelot
75231 Paris cedex 05 (France)
And
ElectricitΓ© de France Recherche et DΓ©veloppement
1, avenue du GΓ©nΓ©ral de Gaulle
92141 Clamart cedex (France)

Contact:
Prof. Alain BERTHOZ
Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Perception et de l’Action
Phone ++ 33.1.44.27.14.04
Email: alain.berthoz@college-de-france.fr
http://www.lppa.college-de-france.fr/