PhD Position: Neural Mechanisms of Imagery and Perception at the Donders Centre for Cognition

1. Introduction

Are you fascinated by how the brain balances perception and imagination? You will help explore cutting-edge questions about neural processes using techniques like fMRI and EEG. Shape the future of cognitive neuroscience while advancing your career in a collaborative research environment!

2. Job description

The Donders Centre for Cognition (PI group of Prof. M. Peelen) is looking for a PhD candidate to address these questions. You will use neuroimaging methods (fMRI, EEG) and behavioural experiments to investigate how the human brain combines imagery and perception, and how people differ in this ability. You will also have the possibility to investigate the neural mechanisms of switching attention between internal and external representations, and how healthy aging affects this process. The specific projects you will work on depend on your skills and interests; your creative input is appreciated.

You will be based in Nijmegen, where you will join the Visual Cognitive Neuroscience Group headed by Prof. Marius Peelen. You will collaborate with other groups at the Donders Institute, including the group of Dr Iris Wiegand.

In addition to writing your thesis, you will disseminate the project findings through scientific journal articles, presentations at conferences, and group and project meetings, as well as through public engagement events. You will spend about 10% of your time (0.1 FTE) assisting with teaching at our department.

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 have a Master’s degree in neuroscience, cognitive science, psychology, artificial intelligence, or a related field.
• You have experience with programming in MATLAB, Python, or a similar environment.
• You have excellent communication skills in English (both written and oral).
• You preferably have experience in collecting and analysing functional neuroimaging data.

4. We are

The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour is a world-class interfaculty research centre that houses more than 1000 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 and 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 and supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute.

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) 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).     
• You will receive a starting salary of €2,901 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,707 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• 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 Prof. M.V. Peelen. 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 April. Any second interview will take place on Tuesday 8 April. You will preferably start your employment on or before 1 September 2025.

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.