Research Assistant Positions
We are hiring!
The Plasticity Lab is looking for a full-time Research Assistant to join our team at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, working with Prof Tamar Makin.
This one-year post offers the opportunity to contribute to research on brain plasticity, hand function, and robotic body augmentation across healthy, clinical, adult and child populations. The role will involve participant recruitment, behavioural, physiological and neuroimaging experiments, data organisation and analysis, technical set-up and troubleshooting, and supporting the day-to-day running of multiple research projects.
We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with experience in:
• face-to-face motor-control research
• advanced movement recording, such as high-density EMG and motion tracking
• programming for analysis or task design, including MATLAB, Python and/or R
• managing complex experimental set-ups and collecting high-quality behavioural data
Experience working with clinical populations, children, longitudinal motor-learning studies, or interdisciplinary teams would also be highly valued.
Full-time, Cambridge-based
Fixed-term for one year
Applications close on 12 July 2026, will open on 26 June 2026
The application link will be available shortly on the MRC Cognition and Brain Science Unit’s website. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact the lab by plasticity-lab@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk.
Postdoctoral Positions
Postdoctoral positions are competitive and advertised on our website and social media pages, as well as the MRC Cognition and Brain Science Unit’s website. If you have an alternative funding source and are interested in joining the Plasticity Lab, please contact Professor Tamar Makin (tamar.makin@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk).
PhD Positions
Opportunities for PhDs are reviewed annually. All prospective PhDs must apply via the University of Cambridge. If you would like to carry out a PhD in the lab, we recommend reaching out between 2-3 months in advance of application deadlines in December. Please contact us at plasticity-lab@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk, and include your CV (including grade averages), as well a cover letter detailing your background and interests.
Masters Student Projects
We welcome applications from Masters students enrolled at the University of Cambridge, as well as those pursuing Masters-level studies at other institutions who have secured a stipend or scholarship to support their time with us. If you are a student at the University of Cambridge, please email Professor Tamar Makin directly (tamar.makin@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk). If you are a student at a different institution, please fill out the form here, including your CV and cover letter. Applications are reviewed monthly.
Internships
We are currently recruiting for a summer internship working in podcast development, further details can be found here.
If you’re reaching out independently, please note that we can only consider inquiries from candidates who have an external funding plan. Please check our social media platforms for future intership opportunties.
Participation in Current Studies
We are conducting a number of studies for which we are currently recruiting for participants. Please find further information here.