Fwd: PhD Position at the Interface of Psychology, Behavioral Economics, Neuro-economics, and Computational Neuroscience

PhD Position at the Interface of Psychology, Behavioral Economics, Neuro-economics, and Computational Neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, Department of Social Neuroscience led by Prof. Dr. Tania Singer The position has been created within the framework of an new INET project (http://ineteconomics.org). The cooperation will consist of a small group of four researchers (two postdocs and two PhD students), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Tania Singer (1 Postdoc position and 1 PhD position at the MPI in Leipzig) and Prof. Dr. Dennis J. Snower (1 Postdoc position and 1 PhD position at the Kiel institute). The INET group will combine empirical research methods from psychology and neurosciences, focusing on motivation, social cognition and emotion, with behavioral economics methods (game theoretical paradigms). Moreover, computational models will be applied with the goal to provide a broader understanding of how motivation influences human economic decision making, for instance in the context of public-good problems. The general goal is to provide empirical evidence for the formulation of new economic models based on human biology and psychology. The position at the MPI is part of an interdisciplinary department that investigates the foundations of human social behavior and, more specifically, the developmental, neural, and hormonal mechanisms underlying social cognition and social emotions. The successful candidate has a solid education in behavioral economics (game-theoretical paradigms) and/or neuro-economic methods (MRI) combined with knowledge and strong interest in motivational psychology and/or social affective neurosciences (including pharmacological interventions such as oxytocin, cortisol, etc). Knowledge of computational neuroscience would be advantageous. The position is primarily devoted to research, with no teaching and minimal administrative duties. The Max Planck Institute (http://www.cbs.mpg.de) offers an international research environment, with English being the language spoken in the laboratory. It offers an excellent infrastructure (e.g., three human 3T and one 7T MRI, rt-fMRI, TMS/tDCS, MEG, behavioral laboratory, etc.). The department also has additional behavioral laboratory space in Berlin, which is located just an hour by train to the north of Leipzig. For further details, see http://www.cbs.mpg.de/dept/singer, http://www.uni-kiel.de/snower, http://ineteconomics.org, or contact Prof. Dr. Tania Singer (singer(a)cbs.mpg.de). Applications (including a CV, list of publications, statement of research interests, and contact information of 3 referees) should be sent as a single PDF file, with your name as the file name, to Tania Singer (singer(a)cbs.mpg.de) and Sandra Zurborg (zurborg(a)cbs.mpg.de). Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the MPI in Leipzig, Germany. The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity employer and explicitly encourages women and handicapped individuals to apply.