PhD position at the Icelandic Vision Lab

Project title: Probabilistic attentional selection in vision


The Icelandic Vision Lab (www.visionlab.is) advertises a 3year PhD position, fully funded by a grant from the Research Fund of the University of Iceland. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Professor Árni Kristjánsson (University of Iceland) and Associate Professor Árni Gunnar Ásgeirsson (University of Akureyri, Iceland). People with backgrounds from various disciplines will be considered, e.g. Neuroscience, Biology, Psychology, Mathematics, Engineering. A Masters degree in relevant disciplines is required. Experience of research relevant to the topic is a big plus.

The PhD work has three main objectives, focusing on attentional function in environments containing different statistical information: 1) To evaluate multitarget selection to attempt to decisively address the question of whether such representations are tuned probabilistically, 2) Use Virtual Reality technology to implement context induced changes to the perceived nature of visual stimuli, 3) To investigate how distributionbased information affects oculomotor selection.

The project will involve behavioral studies, computational modelling, Virtual reality experiments and eyetracking. The work will involve a collaboration between the laboratories that the principal investigators run at the University of Iceland and University of Akureyri.

Experience with experimental psychology software (PsychoPy/Psychtoolbox), programming (Python/MATLAB/C/C++), statistical software such as R, experience of experimentation within VR environments are all definite benefits but promising candidates showing enthusiasm and willingness to learn these methods will also be considered.

The Icelandic Vision Lab offers a stimulating academic environment, and is headed by professors Árni Kristjánsson, Heiða María Sigurðardóttir and Árni Gunnar Ásgeirsson. The laboratory has an extended network of collaborations, from all over the world and is in many ways unique in this international aspect.

The successful candidates will join this vibrant community of graduate students, postdocs and faculty who all work on varied aspects of visual perception. The lab is well funded with grants from the Icelandic Research Fund, The European Research Council and the Research Fund of the University of Iceland. There is good access to necessary equipment for the studies. The lab has high-end equipment for VR experiments, for eye movement studies, for EEG, as well as extensive experience with high quality psychophysical studies.

Iceland consistently ranks as one of the best places in the world to live:
(http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2021/), life satisfaction is among the highest in the world(http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/life-satisfaction), and the country is consistently rated the most peaceful in the world (http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/most-
peaceful-countries/).  Iceland also ranks at the top of the world in terms of gender equality (https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/12/gender-gap-equality-women-parity-countries/).
Applicants of any gender are strongly encouraged to apply.

Starting April 1st, 2022, we will start evaluating applications, but no firm deadline is set at this point.

Please send applications containing CV’s and statements  of your interest, explaining relevant experience to ivl.application(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com