PhD Fellowship in Computational Modeling in the Department of Psychology at the University of Warwick

Supervisor: Dr. Maria Robinson

This PhD fellowship offers an opportunity to work on computational modeling across a range of domains, including attention, memory, decision-making, and metacognition. Dr. Robinson also conducts research on best practices in theory assessment and measurement in psychology.

In recent work, Dr. Robinson is interested in extending computational modelling approaches to real-world applications, such as studying clinical disorders, the domain-generality and plasticity of cognitive control processes, and exploring intersections between artificial intelligence (AI) and human models of cognition. Topics for potential PhD projects could include:

• Developing computational models of memory, visual cognition, and decision-making.
• Understanding different facets of metacognition in different learning environments.
• Applying modeling approaches and cognitive theory to study cognitive deficits in clinical populations.
• Exploring synergies between human cognitive models and AI systems.

Dr. Robinson is looking for highly motivated students from a range of backgrounds. While prior knowledge of quantitative methods and programming is desirable, it is not required. Highly motivated applicants with a strong interest in applying computational modeling and experimental approaches to understanding cognition are encouraged to apply.

The student will have access to the vibrant research community at the University of Warwick’s Psychology Department, which has leading experts in computational modelling, applied research, and clinical psychology. The applicant will benefit from training in advanced computational and experimental methods, and opportunities for collaboration within and outside the department.

Requirements:

We are seeking candidates who are:

• Motivated and passionate about advancing understanding of cognition through rigorous computational and experimental approaches.
• Open to learning and integrating methods from diverse disciplines.
• Proficient (or willing to become proficient) in quantitative methods and programming.

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree (Upper Second Class minimum) in Psychology, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Neuroscience, or a related field. A First-Class undergraduate degree or a Master’s distinction is preferred. Prior research experience is highly valued but not essential.

How to apply:

Please submit your CV (2 pages maximum) and a cover letter (2 pages maximum) detailing:

• Why you are a suitable candidate for this fellowship.
• Your relevant background or research experience.
• A description of your research interests.

Applicants without an existing PhD application with us should apply online through the Doctoral College online form: https://warwick.ac.uk/pgapply.

Applicants who already have an existing PhD application with us should instead complete the online form: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/psych/fellowships/applications.

For questions regarding this PhD project, please contact Dr. Maria Robinson at .

Closing date: Sunday 16 March 2025 at 23:59

Representative publications and preprints

Robinson, M. M., & Brady, T. F. (2024; under review). Simple readout, complex behaviour via a generative model of confidence. OSF.

Robinson, M. M., Williams, J. R., Wixted, J., & Brady T. F. (accepted). Zooming in on what counts as core and auxiliary: A case study on recognition models of visual working memory. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review.

Robinson, M. M., DeStefano, I., Vul, E., & Brady, T. F. (2023). Local but not global graph theoretic measures of semantic networks generalize across tasks. Behavior Research Methods.

Robinson, M. M., DeStefano, I., Vul, E., & Brady, T. F. (2023). How do people build up visual memory representations from sensory evidence? Revisiting two classic models of choice. Journal of Mathematical Psychology.

Robinson, M. M., & Brady, T. F. (2023). A quantitative model of ensemble perception as summed activation in feature space. Nature Human Behavior.

Robinson, M. M., & Steyvers, M. (2022). Linking computational models of two core tasks of cognitive control. Psychological Review.

Regenwetter, M., & Robinson, M. M. (2017). The construct-behavior gap in behavioral decision research: A challenge beyond replicability. Psychological Review.