PhD Position: Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Learning in Infancy at the Donders Centre for Cognition

1. Introduction

Babies have so much to learn in such a short period, but how does learning itself develop? Join our research team to follow infants from 5 and 10 months to 2 ½ years to answer this pressing question. 

2. Job description

You will use a novel neuroscience tool, optically-pumped magnetometers, to understand how early learning develops. You will address how caregivers’ behaviour influences infants’ learning and how early differences in learning predict language and social skills later. Insights from this project can provide knowledge for early interventions to foster learning in infancy, with potential to support later skill acquisition. This research is located at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience and developmental psychology.

We are looking for a PhD candidate to join the BabyBRAIN lab. In this position, you will conduct cross-sectional and longitudinal research to investigate how learning unfolds in early childhood. You will acquire and analyse behavioural and electrophysiological data of infants and young children under the supervision of Marlene Meyer, Robert Oostenveld and Sabine Hunnius. You will be a member of the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and the Baby and Child Research Center.

Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your working time.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate. 

3. Profile

• You hold a MSc in (Developmental) Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Science or related field.
• You have a strong motivation to conduct interdisciplinary empirical research at the intersection of developmental psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
• You have experience with quantitative data analysis techniques such as Matlab or Python. Experience with neuroscience techniques (e.g. EEG) is a plus.
• You possess proven problem-solving skills and an ability to take a strong, positive and proactive approach to work.
• You have experience with experimental developmental psychology. Experience working with infants or young families is a plus.
• You possess excellent collaborative and communication skills.
• You are versatile, flexible and able to work in a team as well as independently.

4. We are

The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour is a world-class interfaculty research centre, that houses more than 700 researchers devoted to understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of the human mind. Research at the Donders Institute is focused around four themes:

1. Language and communication
2. Perception, action and decision-making
3. Development and lifelong plasticity
4. Natural computing & neurotechnology

Excellent, state-of-the-art research facilities are available for the broad range of neuroscience research that is being conducted at the Donders Institute. The Donders Institute has been assessed by an international evaluation committee as ‘excellent’ and recognised as a ‘very stimulating environment for top researchers, as well as for young talent’. The Donders Institute fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary, supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute.

The Baby and Child Research Center (BRC) at Radboud University is a leading cross-disciplinary research initiative on early development. We study children's social and cognitive development as well as their language acquisition and health during the first six years of life. BRC features state-of-the art facilities, such as eye-tracking, motion-tracking and neuroimaging techniques. It fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary and supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. You will be an integral member of the lively BRC community. 

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (0.8 FTE 5- year contract - 1.0 FTE 4- year contract) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract) or 3.5 years (5-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €3,059 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,881 from the fourth year onwards (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. 
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Marlene Meyer. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 September. Any second interview will take place on Monday 29 September. You will preferably start your employment as soon as possible.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates.