Data Analyst at the Donders Centre for Cognition - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

1. Introduction

Are you excited about cognitive neuroscience and skilled in EEG data analysis? If so, join us for a 12-month research project exploring how aging affects attention and memory during real-world search tasks. You will contribute directly to cutting-edge methods that reveal how the brain sees and remembers at the same time, and how these processes change as we age. 

2. Job description

Our project examines how the brain tackles such real-world challenges as we age. We aim to find out whether older adults can adapt to rising demands and engage compensatory brain activity. We are looking for a data analyst to assist with developing new EEG analysis pipelines to reveal brain correlates of complex search processes and age differences therein.

Imagine searching for your grandchildren in a busy playground. This task involves matching what you see (other children) with what you remember (your grandchildren). You will be part of a project investigating how the brain tackles such challenging search task as we age. Our aim is to better understand and support cognitive aging through advanced EEG-based brain activity analyses.

As a data analyst, you will take the lead in developing and refining a new EEG analysis pipeline. This involves processing high-density EEG data from visual-memory search experiments and applying time-domain, frequency-domain and connectivity analyses to identify brain activity patterns. You will work with existing EEG data of healthy younger and older adults and be involved in the design, data collection and analyses of a new EEG study.     

You will work closely with the PI and PhD candidate and/or Master’s students, and receive input from experienced EEG researchers through existing collaborations. You will have access to state-of-the-art EEG facilities and established data resources. The project also includes opportunities to co-author publications and present your work.

3. Profile

• You have or are about to obtain a Master's degree in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field.
• You have gained hands-on research experience (e.g. in  an empirical thesis project or internship).
• You have experience in EEG data analysis.
• You have strong programming skills in MATLAB or Python, especially using EEG toolboxes (e.g. EEGLAB, FieldTrip, MNE).
• You have an interest in research on visual attention, memory, aging and motivation to contribute to innovative and societally relevant research.
• You have the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a small team.
• You have confidence in communicating in English, both spoken and written.

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.

5. We offer

• We will offer you a temporary employment contract of one year for full-time employment, or six months for part-time employment.
• Your salary within salary scale 7 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• 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 Iris Wiegand. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place on Tuesday 1 July. Any second interview will take place on Tuesday 8 July. You will preferably start your employment on 1 September.

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. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.