Research Software Engineer; Neural and Behavioural Data

About us

The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre (SWC) brings together world-leading scientists to investigate how brain circuits process information to generate perception, form memories and guide behaviour. Developed through the vision and partnership of the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and Wellcome, and with substantial investment from these partners, the mission of the SWC is to generate experimentally testable theories of brain function.

The Centre comprises 13 highly interdisciplinary experimental research groups accommodated in a new, purpose-designed building, offering an outstanding and unparalleled research environment.

SWC scientists use a broad spectrum of the latest advances in molecular and cellular biology, imaging, electrophysiology and behavioural techniques and enjoy state-of-the-art research laboratories, cutting-edge scientific equipment, technologically-advanced prototyping and fabrication laboratories and custom in-house high-performance computing facilities.

The SWC is pioneering open-source approaches (such as Aeon) to study behaviour and brain function over long time scales (days to weeks). Processing and analysing this data represents a considerable challenge due to the scale and the complexity of such long-term recordings (e.g. drift of electrophysiological recordings).

We are inviting applications for a research software engineer to be based in the Neuroinformatics Unit, working with the laboratories of Tom Mrsic-Flogel, Tiago Branco and Tim Behrens.

You will be responsible for developing, optimising, and using efficient tools to process and visualise large volumes of extracellular electrophysiological data (such as from Neuropixels probes) and behavioural data (such as from video recordings). This will include contributing to open-source packages such as "Spike Interface" and "Movement" and implementing them within SWC pipelines (e.g. using Data Joint). A key part of the role will be to efficiently process large-scale data recorded by researchers at SWC (e.g. from Aeon), and ensuring that data is processed accurately and efficiently.

Informal enquiries regarding the role can be addressed to Adam Tyson ().

This post is funded until September 2028 in the first instance with the possibility of extension subject to grant funding.

To apply, please upload a current CV, complete the online application form, and use the supporting statement section or upload a cover letter to outline how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role. Please do not upload any additional attachments as these will not be considered by the selection panel.

You will have strong programming skills in Python along with extensive experience working with time series data. The ideal candidate will have experience working with extracellular electrophysiology and building data pipelines.

You should have a strong interest in building easy to use software to help advance neuroscience and be comfortable working in teams of researchers and software engineers.

The ideal candidate will have experience of good software engineering best practices and working on, and with open-source software.

The post is based in London, suitable for hybrid working with a minimum of 40% of time onsite. As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents SWC offers staff an award winning work environment with state of the art facilities an on site brassiere and access to pleasant outdoor spaces. SWC staff receive the full range of UCL benefits.

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

You can read more about UCL’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here