Open Positions

Interested in joining us? The Active Perception Laboratory is an exciting place to work. By joining our team, you will have the possibility to contribute to research that is expanding the boundaries of current knowledge on how the visual system functions. Since our research is highly interdisciplinary, you will interact with lab members from a variety of fields including Neuroscience, Psychology, Engineering, and Physics. You will continually learn new skills and widen your horizons. Since the laboratory is jointly supported by two Principal Investigators, you will find a very rich environment, with a critical mass of lab members and a virtually unique array of experimental resources. Both are further amplified by the tremendous opportunities provided by the Center for Visual Science, one of the oldest centers in the field world-wide, and the superb environment in visual neuroscience and optics at the University of Rochester. Since the Active Perception Laboratory receives funding from both the government and industry, you will be able to work on a wide variety of projects and establish close collaborations with major technological corporations. And since the activities in the Active Perception Laboratory often require complementary skills and interests, you can get involved at multiple level of expertise, from undergraduate to post-doctoral. Below is a list of some of the current openings in the laboratory.

Graduate Applicants

Graduate students are at the heart of the Active Perception Laboratory. They contribute to every aspect of our work and continually shape the lab's future.

Most applicants join through the Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences or the Department of Neuroscience, but students have also come from the Institute of Optics and other departments across the university. Because our research spans a wide range of topics, we welcome students with diverse backgrounds and interests.

Graduate students in the lab have the flexibility to tailor their training. Many engage in both experimental and computational projects, gaining experience with a variety of techniques, while others focus more deeply on a specific question or approach. Some also contribute to the design and refinement of new instruments. Through our close partnerships with major technology companies, students often build valuable connections with industry.

The Active Perception Laboratory has a strong record of high-profile student-led publications, and several students have appeared as co-inventors on patents stemming from our research. Graduate students are typically supported by one or more of our research grants and devote most of their time to hands-on research.

If you are interested in joining the lab, please explore our recent publications to learn more about our research, and contact one or both Principal Investigators, Drs. Martina Poletti and Michele Rucci, depending on your interests.

Postdoctoral Position in Vision Science

Postdoctoral positions are available in the Active Perception Laboratory (http://aplab.bcs.rochester.edu) at the University of Rochester to study the perceptual consequences of eye movements under the supervision of Dr. Martina Poletti and/or Dr. Michele Rucci. We are particularly interested in recruiting candidates interested in investigating the roles of eye movements in establishing spatial representations, the spatiotemporal dynamics of foveal and extrafoveal processing, the interplay between eye movements, retinal anatomy, and attention, and the possible roles of eye movements in emmetropization and myopia.

Research in the laboratory focuses on the interaction between vision and behavior. Our work relies on the integration of theoretical and experimental approaches to investigate how visual functions unfold in the presence of normal and abnormal motor activity, how vision guides behavior, and how changes in visual input signals and modulations associated with behavior contribute to perception. The laboratory is equipped with a unique array of tools, many developed in-house, to investigate the synergy between visual, motor, and cognitive processes (https://aplab.bcs.rochester.edu/facilities.html#). Approaches include human psychophysics with precisely controlled retinal stimulation, computational modeling, precise measurements of head and eye movements, high-resolution retinal imaging, and electroencephalography (EEG) during active vision. A full list of our publications can be found at https://aplab.bcs.rochester.edu/publications.html.

The ideal candidate would have a strong interest in vision science, a background in related areas, and experience with data analysis and computer programming. Prior experience in eye-tracking, psychophysics, retinal imaging, computational modeling, signal processing, and/or electroencephalography is a plus. Motivation and independence are important, as well as the ability to work well in a team. The University of Rochester offers a highly collaborative and stimulating research environment with excellent opportunities for interactions and training in vision science and neuroscience. The laboratory is located within the Center for Visual Science (http://www.cvs.rochester.edu/) and the department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences (http://www.sas.rochester.edu/bcs/). Ongoing collaborations at the University of Rochester include the Flaum Eye Institute (https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/eye-institute.aspx) the Institute of Optics (http://www.hajim.rochester.edu/optics/) and the department of Neuroscience (https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience.aspx)

To apply, please send curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests and accomplishments, and the names of two references to Martina Poletti (martina_poletti@urmc.rochester.edu) and Michele Rucci (mrucci@ur.rochester.edu).