Research position in auditory/music perception

[Daniel Levitin <levitin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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KEELE UNIVERSITY

RESEARCH FELLOW/LECTURER IN COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Applications are invited for a full-time post-doctoral research fellow to
work on an ESRC funded project into Fingering Strategies of Pianists,
co-directed by Professor John Sloboda (Keele) and Professor Eric Clarke
(Sheffield).  For a particularly well-qualified appointee, the post may be
convertible to a permanent lectureship in psychology at Keele.  Starting
salary will be within the RA1A scale, at not less than point 5 ( 15,563,
under review).  Starting date is September/October 1994.

Closing date for applications 30th May 1994.  For application form and
further details please write to Personnel Department, Keele University,
Newcastle, Staffs, ST5 5BG, UK. FAX 0782 583471.

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Sloboda by telephone (0782
583381) or by e-mail (j.a.sloboda@keele.ac.uk)


FURTHER PARTICULARS

The project, commencing October 1st 1994, is planned to last three years,
with funding for the second and third years dependent on satisfactory
outcomes of the first year.  It entails (a) the development of automated
techniques for recording finger choices of pianists in live performance, and
(b) the design, execution and interpretation of seven empirical studies
comparing pianists of varying degrees of expertise in a variety of
situations, ranging from unprepared sight-reading through to polished final
performance.  Pianists will perform onto Yamaha Diskclavier or Clavinova,
allowing direct transfer of performance data to computer via MIDI interface.
Academic and technical support from the Keele and Sheffield Departments of
Music is an integral feature of the project.

Candidates should have appropriate undergraduate or postgraduate
qualifications in psychology, and will be expected to possess, or shortly to
obtain, a PhD.  The ideal candidate will have a background in cognitive
psychology, with particular interests in skill and expertise, action or
motor performance.  He or she should be familiar with the use of
microcomputers for on-line experimental control and data analysis.  A
background in music research is not essential, but candidates should have
basic musical literacy.  Some level of competence as an amateur pianist
would be an advantage, but not a requirement.

Although the permanent base of the post will be at Keele, the project will
involve a considerable amount of travel, particularly to Sheffield and
London, with some overnight stops.  Research associates to the project are
located at City University London, and the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki.  It
is essential that the postholder is a car owner with a valid driving
licence.

If an appointment is made to the Lecturer grade, the post-holder will be
expected to undertake a small amount of relevant teaching, no more than two
hours per week, for the duration of the research grant.


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