Postdoctoral Researcher in Affective Neuroscience at the Donders
Institute (0,7 - 1,0 fte)
Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging
Maximum salary: € 4,551 gross/month
Vacancy number: 30.04.15
Application deadline: 12 April 2015
Responsibilities
We seek a highly talented and motivated postdoctoral researcher to join
a unique large-scale fMRI project on neuroendocrine mechanisms in
fight/flight decisions of police officers. The project is part of a
larger longitudinal project funded by the Netherlands Organization for
Scientific Research (NWO-VICI-project: “Police In Action”). The
overarching aim of the project is to investigate stress resilience and
stress vulnerability factors, including automatic fight-or-flight
tendencies that may differentially prime for anxious versus aggressive
stress symptoms. In collaboration with the National Dutch Police Force,
300 police recruits will be tested before and after exposure to their
first armed service during emergency response, one of the most stressful
phases during their training. Besides functional neuroimaging the
testing involves creating genetic and endocrine profiles of each subject.
Your duties will be supervising the data collection, conducting advanced
fMRI analyses (including brain connectivity analyses), machine learning
and reporting on the results. There will be ample opportunity to develop
your own research questions and focus within this large-scale
multidisciplinary project. In addition, you will have the opportunity to
supervise two PhD students and one RA, who will conduct the data
collection. You will be joining the ‘Affective Neuroscience’ PI group
led by Prof. Karin Roelofs at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition
and Behaviour at Radboud University Nijmegen (Netherlands). Our group
investigates brain systems that support the cognitive control of
emotions and emotional actions. In addition we seek to understand how
these networks interact with hormonal and major neurotransmitter systems
in healthy subjects and patients with anxiety and aggression related
disorders (see
www.roelofs-epan.nl/ <http://www.roelofs-epan.nl/>). You
will be given the opportunity to regularly present your work at
international conferences and meetings. Also, in order to develop your
own research agenda, we will encourage and support you in applying for
competitive career development fellowships towards the end of the project.
Work environment
The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour consists of the
Centre for Cognition, the Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, and the
Centre for Neuroscience. The mission of the Centre for Cognitive
Neuroimaging - where our group is based - is to conduct cutting-edge
fundamental research in cognitive neuroscience. Much of the rapid
progress in this field is being driven by the development of complex
neuroimaging techniques for measuring activity in the human brain - an
area in which the Centre plays a leading role. The research themes cover
central cognitive functions, such as perception, action, control,
emotion, decision making, attention, memory, language, learning and
plasticity. The Centre also aims to establish how the different brain
areas coordinate their activity with very high temporal precision to
enable human and animal cognition. The internationally renowned centre
currently hosts more than 100 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers
from more than 25 nationalities, offering a stimulating and
multidisciplinary research environment. The centre is equipped with four
MRI scanners (7T, 2x 3T, 1.5T), a 275-channel MEG system, an EEG-TMS
laboratory, several (MR-compatible) EEG systems, and high-performance
computational facilities. English is the lingua franca at the centre.
What we expect from you
You should have a PhD degree in a field related to cognitive
neuroscience (e.g. experimental psychology, cognitive science, biology,
or neuroscience). Candidates with a strong background in affective
neuroscience and experience with psychophysiological measures and
advanced fMRI connectivity analyses, computational modelling and machine
learning are particularly encouraged to apply. Selection will be based
on records of published research, conceptual expertise in affective
neuroscience and familiarity with neuroimaging techniques. You will work
in an interdisciplinary environment, sharing technical know-how and ideas
What we have to offer
We offer you:
- employment: 0,7 - 1,0 fte;
- a maximum gross monthly salary of € 4,551 based on a 38-hour working
week (salary scale 11);
- in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3%
end-of-year bonus;
- duration of the contract: 4 years;
- you will be classified as a Postdoctoral Researcher (Onderzoeker 3) in
the Dutch university job-ranking system (UFO);
- the position will be available from May 2015, but the start date of
the contract is flexible;
- successful candidates from abroad are eligible to apply for the
attractive Dutch tax incentive scheme for foreign employees.
Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions
<http://www.ru.nl/english/arbeidsvoorwaarden>?
Would you like to know more?
Further information on: The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and
Behaviour <http://www.ru.nl/donders/>
Further information on: Experimental Psychopathalogy and Affective
Neuroscience <http://www.roelofs-epan.nl/>
For more information about this vacancy, please contact:
Karin Roelofs, Principal Investigator and Professor of Experimental
Psychopathology
Telephone: +31 24 3612673
E-mail: k.roelofs(a)donders.ru.nl <mailto:k.roelofs@donders.ru.nl>
Are you interested?
Please include with your application a motivation letter (attn. of Prof.
Karin Roelofs), CV and any required attachments. You should upload these
documents using the apply button in the following link:
(
http://www.ru.nl/overons/werken-radboud/details-0/details_vacature_0?recid=…
<http://www.ru.nl/overons/werken-radboud/details-0/details_vacature_0?recid=548379>).
Applications (consisting of a single PDF file) should include:
- a short (one page) application letter;
- a one-page summary of your research including future research plans;
- your CV including a list of publications (3 pages max.) and the names
and contact details of two scientists who can provide references.
For more information on your application: +31 24 3611173.