Visual Learning Lab, University of California- San Diego
The Visual Learning Lab at UCSD (PI: Bria Long) is looking for a postdoctoral research fellow to join our lab! The lab is broadly interested in the development of perception and cognition, with a focus on using computational models to understand how we learn to derive visual meaning. Please see https://www.vislearnlab.org/join-the-lab for more information about our approach, philosophy, and future research ideas.
We are seeking a postdoc to work on a funded project that analyzes egocentric videos to characterize the structure of children’s early learning environments. This position will involve:
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Leading experiments, papers, and other research activities in this topic space
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Deploying existing and developing novel machine learning tools to analyze video datasets collected with head-mounted cameras
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Professional development activities, including grant writing and preparation for the academic job market
The ideal candidate may be new to this specific topic area but should have some training and experience with three of the following:
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Conceptual background in developmental cognitive science and/or visual perception/object recognition.
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Implementing analysis pipelines using computational models of visual perception; ideally some experience in fine-tuning computational models.
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Data management, including the storage and/or curation of larger-scale datasets.
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Rigorous experimental design for behavioral experiments with adults, children, and/or infants.
We have funding available to fund a postdoc for 2 years at UCSD postdoctoral rates, including health insurance and other benefits, and funding for conference travel. The position is for 100% full-time employment. The postdoc should be committed to applying for their own funding as part of their training. The target start date is Summer 2025, with flexibility.
This postdoc will be joining the Department of Psychology at UCSD, which is home to many faculty working at the intersection of developmental psychology, vision science, and machine learning. We also have close affiliations with faculty in the Department of Cognitive Science. The University of California employs about 6,000 postdoctoral scholars (approx. 1,200 at UCSD) who contribute to the academic community by enhancing the research and education programs of the university. Postdocs have access to many services, union and health benefits at UCSD which can be explored here: https://postdoc.ucsd.edu/postdocs/index.html
Application Instructions
Applicants should have a Ph.D. before beginning the position. Applicants should submit a cover letter describing their research interests and skills and how they fit with this position, a CV, contacts for 2-3 letters of reference (letters will be requested for finalists, and do not need to be submitted until later), a link to your GitHub profile and/or open-source codebase (optional but encouraged), and a representative paper (required; preprints or drafts are okay). Individuals from under-represented backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply; our lab will prioritize an inclusive and supportive lab culture. Please write to the PI (Dr. Bria Long, brlong@ucsd.edu) with questions. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.
Closing Date:
Contact: brlong@ucsd.edu