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The Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, Department of Social Neuroscience led by Prof. Dr. Tania Singer invites applications for three different postdoc positons. More information can be found below and online here: www.cbs.mpg.de/depts/singer/vacant/

*1) Research Group Leader (W2) within the Department of Social Neuroscience or Senior Postdoc position *

We seek talented, dynamic, independent, and motivated scientists early in their career to fill an independent W2-MPRGL position or senior postdoc position and have the ambition to work in the field of social and cognitive neurosciences (e.g., social cognition, emotions, neuroplasticity). Such a position is highly prestigious and comes with generous core funding, so that research initiatives can get started right away. The successful candidate has 2-4 years’ research experience as a postdoctoral fellow and has an extensive expertise in structural and functional MRI (preferably with SPM, Matlab) and behavioral analyses. He/she will be involved in all areas of the departmental research program as well as be part of a longitudinal study investigating the effects of affective and cognitive mental training on neural plasticity, health, subjective well-being, and behavior (see www.resourc-project.org). Knowledge of other neuroscientific methods (e.g., multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA), rt-fMRI, DTI, TMS/tDCS) would be advantageous. Moreover, we expect the candidate to supervise doctoral students independently. He/she should have an outstanding scientific track record with clear evidence of leadership and other scholarly promises in the form of high-impact publications and other achievements. The position is primarily devoted to research, with no teaching, and minimal administrative duties.

* 2) Postdoc in Cognitive & Social Neuroscience, Motivation Psychology and Neuroeconomics*

The position has been created within the framework of a new project funded by the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET; http://ineteconomics.org). The cooperation will consist of a small group of four researchers under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Tania Singer and Prof. Dr. Dennis J. Snower.

The research of this group aims to provide a broader understanding of how motivation influences economic decision making, with a view to exploring the opportunities for cooperation in addressing public goods problems. To this end, the group will combine empirical research methods from psychology and neurosciences (focusing on motivation, social cognition and emotion) with behavioral economics methods (based on game theoretical paradigms), computational models, as well as neuroscientific approaches (e.g., fMRI, TMS). This research is expected to provide evidence that can be used to generate models of economic decision making that are based on human biology and psychology. More information can be found here: www.caring-economics.org

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. He/she also shows evidence of scholarly promise in the form of publications in high-impact journals and other achievements. The position is primarily devoted to research, with no teaching and minimal administrative duties.

* 3) Postdoc in Biopsychology* The successful candidate will be primarily involved in the analyses of a huge battery of different bio-psychological data from a large-scale and unique longitudinal study, the ReSource Project (www.resource-project.org), investigating the effects of affective and cognitive mental training on neural plasticity, stress- and health-related markers, subjective well-being, social and cognitive functioning and behavior. The successful candidate has finished their PhD and may already have held a postdoctoral position, and they show evidence of high scholarly promise in the form of publications and other academic achievements. He/she has expertise in endocrinology, immunology, (epi-)genetics, and the corresponding psychophysiological paradigms.