ZZ006102 - Research Associate
Department of Psychology

-

Faculty of Science and Health

Department of Psychology

 

Research Associate

 

Employment type: Fixed-term for up to 19.5 months

Employment basis: Part-time (18.5 hours)

Salary: £13,755 - £15,023 (£27,511 - £30,046 x 0.5FTE) per annum 

Post number: ZZ006102

Date published: 06 February 2020 
Closing date: 08 March 2020

 

Interview date: 16 March 2020

 

The University of Portsmouth is a dynamic and ambitious institution with a track record of success. One of only four universities in the south east of England to achieve a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework, it is also ranked 21st in the 2020 Guardian League Table University Guide, and 113th in the Times Higher Young University World Rankings.

 

We are seeking to appoint a part-time, up to 19.5 months Research Associate at the University of Portsmouth, Department of Psychology, Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, as part of the research grant ‘Rethinking complexity in facial communication systems’, funded by the Leverhulme Trust and awarded to Dr Jérôme Micheletta, Prof Bridget Waller, and Dr Julie Duboscq.

The Research Associate will work on a research project involving the development and application of a new analytical method to quantify the complexity of communication via the face, by combining the Facial Action Coding System and Social Network Analysis. The Research Fellow will be responsible for developing the methodology and will work closely with another Research Associate and a PhD student on the project.

Project description:

Humans and other primates are capable of incredibly subtle and meaningful facial movements that are important channels of communication. Current evidence suggests that species characterised by more complex social systems (e.g. large social groups, individualised, diverse and long-term relationships) have more complex communication systems, in order to deal with their complex social lives.

Testing this hypothesis is hampered by the dominant theoretical approach which conceptualises facial expressions as static configurations of the face, reflecting categorical internal states such as anger or fear (i.e. universal emotions). We will abandon this traditional categorical emotion approach to measuring facial expression, and instead develop a new theoretical and methodological framework.

First, we will build a new tool (NetFACS) to measure the complexity of species’ facial repertoire by a series of continuous measures. We will combine an anatomically-based system to identify facial muscle movements (FACS: Facial Action Coding System), with a network approach which measures the relationships between units in a system. NetFACS will measure the dynamic nature of facial movements and allow analysis of complexity at different hierarchical levels (individual muscle movements, sets of movements and the transitions between movements and sets of movements). Second, using NetFACS, we will test the hypothesis that social complexity drives the evolution of facial communication complexity. We will compare four closely related species characterised by different degrees of social complexity: rhesus, long-tailed, Barbary, and crested macaques.

Key responsibilities:

  • To develop and apply a method based on Social Network Analysis to analyse data obtained using the Facial Action Coding System.
  • To create a package for the software R allowing other researchers to apply the above methodology.
  • To contribute to data extraction using FACS and analysis using the above methodology.
  • To share research findings in departmental, national and international conferences and seminars.
  • To write papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals

Flexible arrangements regarding working hours can be considered and candidates are encouraged to discuss this with Dr Jérôme Micheletta. Any enquiries regarding the position should be made to Dr Jérôme Micheletta via email to jerome.micheletta@port.ac.uk

The University of Portsmouth provides an inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting every individual’s differences. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.

Applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

 

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons and all appointments will be made on merit. As we are committed to the principles of the Race Equality Charter Mark, we would particularly welcome applications from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community who are currently under-represented at this level in this area.   

 

For detailed information about University of Portsmouth, please select this link: Working at Portsmouth

 

For detailed information about the vacancy, please select this link: ZZ006102 - Research Associate.docx

 

 

Vacancy Description
-
 

Faculty of Science and Health

Department of Psychology

 

Research Associate

 

Employment type: Fixed-term for up to 19.5 months

Employment basis: Part-time (18.5 hours)

Salary: £13,755 - £15,023 (£27,511 - £30,046 x 0.5FTE) per annum 

Post number: ZZ006102

Date published: 06 February 2020 
Closing date: 08 March 2020

 

Interview date: 16 March 2020

 

The University of Portsmouth is a dynamic and ambitious institution with a track record of success. One of only four universities in the south east of England to achieve a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework, it is also ranked 21st in the 2020 Guardian League Table University Guide, and 113th in the Times Higher Young University World Rankings.

 

We are seeking to appoint a part-time, up to 19.5 months Research Associate at the University of Portsmouth, Department of Psychology, Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, as part of the research grant ‘Rethinking complexity in facial communication systems’, funded by the Leverhulme Trust and awarded to Dr Jérôme Micheletta, Prof Bridget Waller, and Dr Julie Duboscq.

The Research Associate will work on a research project involving the development and application of a new analytical method to quantify the complexity of communication via the face, by combining the Facial Action Coding System and Social Network Analysis. The Research Fellow will be responsible for developing the methodology and will work closely with another Research Associate and a PhD student on the project.

Project description:

Humans and other primates are capable of incredibly subtle and meaningful facial movements that are important channels of communication. Current evidence suggests that species characterised by more complex social systems (e.g. large social groups, individualised, diverse and long-term relationships) have more complex communication systems, in order to deal with their complex social lives.

Testing this hypothesis is hampered by the dominant theoretical approach which conceptualises facial expressions as static configurations of the face, reflecting categorical internal states such as anger or fear (i.e. universal emotions). We will abandon this traditional categorical emotion approach to measuring facial expression, and instead develop a new theoretical and methodological framework.

First, we will build a new tool (NetFACS) to measure the complexity of species’ facial repertoire by a series of continuous measures. We will combine an anatomically-based system to identify facial muscle movements (FACS: Facial Action Coding System), with a network approach which measures the relationships between units in a system. NetFACS will measure the dynamic nature of facial movements and allow analysis of complexity at different hierarchical levels (individual muscle movements, sets of movements and the transitions between movements and sets of movements). Second, using NetFACS, we will test the hypothesis that social complexity drives the evolution of facial communication complexity. We will compare four closely related species characterised by different degrees of social complexity: rhesus, long-tailed, Barbary, and crested macaques.

Key responsibilities:

  • To develop and apply a method based on Social Network Analysis to analyse data obtained using the Facial Action Coding System.
  • To create a package for the software R allowing other researchers to apply the above methodology.
  • To contribute to data extraction using FACS and analysis using the above methodology.
  • To share research findings in departmental, national and international conferences and seminars.
  • To write papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals

Flexible arrangements regarding working hours can be considered and candidates are encouraged to discuss this with Dr Jérôme Micheletta. Any enquiries regarding the position should be made to Dr Jérôme Micheletta via email to jerome.micheletta@port.ac.uk

The University of Portsmouth provides an inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting every individual’s differences. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.

Applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

 

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons and all appointments will be made on merit. As we are committed to the principles of the Race Equality Charter Mark, we would particularly welcome applications from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community who are currently under-represented at this level in this area.   

 

For detailed information about University of Portsmouth, please select this link: Working at Portsmouth

 

For detailed information about the vacancy, please select this link: ZZ006102 - Research Associate.docx