Vacancy Postdoc Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

Job description

The Lifespan Cognitive Dynamics Lab, led by Prof. Dr. Rogier Kievit, studies why cognitive abilities differ between people and change across the lifespan. Are you the Postdoc to support our ongoing (2023-2027) five year, ERC funded project on changes and fluctuations in cognitive abilities in children? We would like to get to know you!

The CODEC study will measure children’s cognitive performance in both school and lab settings (fMRI) using tablets as well as laboratory-based tests. As part of the CODEC team (2 RA’s, 1 PhD student, 1 PI and multiple interns) you will play a central role in this study. Organisationally, you will work on multiple research tasks that may include participant recruitment, administrative duties (checking and updating ethics documentation and protocols), pilot testing, behavioural testing, and communications, preparation, and implementation. Moreover, you will work together with a senior RA to supervise data entry, cleaning and management. Scientifically, you will use both CODEC and similar data to develop and test hypotheses on the development of cognitive variability and its relation with brain structure and function, and draft articles for journal publication as first author.

The anticipated start date is September 1st 2024. 

Activities and responsibilities

• Help manage a large-scale developmental study focused on cognitive fluctuation to better understand cognitive development.
• Supervise PhD students, RA’s and interns working on the CODEC project.
• Recruit and test children both in school settings (N=600, 3 waves) and in our MRI arm (N=200, 2 waves).
• Develop and test research hypotheses and prepare the research for publication.
• Present the work at seminars within the unit and at external meetings.
• Contribute to the Donders scientific community through collaborations, workshops and talks.

Place of work

You will work in the Cognitive Neuroscience (CNS) department of the Donders Institute of Brain, Cognition and Behavior in Nijmegen. 

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where our research groups strive for innovative solutions that make impact on health and healthcare. We challenge the status quo to overcome current and future health challenges. Our goal is to shape the future of healthcare for generations to come. Our focus is on prevention, sustainability, and meaningful care, which we achieve through our in-depth understanding of disease mechanisms, clinical science, public health research, medical technology and data science. Our approach is centered on breakthroughs that can truly enhance personalized healthcare and public health. 

At Radboudumc, a comprehensive range of research programs provide the compass for our research efforts. Each program has a clear goal, where collaboration within and outside our organization is highly valued. We integrate care, education and research in partnership with our patients to ensure that our research programs have significant impact on health and healthcare. We invite you to join us in our mission to create a healthy future for all.

We are here for everyone
Did you know that Radboudumc is one of the most inclusive organizations in the world? We are ranked 52nd in the Financial Times international ranking, making us the highest-ranked healthcare organization in the Netherlands. We are committed to a good gender balance in all positions. And you have the opportunity to make the most of your unique personality and talents. So, whoever you are, you are welcome!

Profile

You have a PhD in (developmental) psychology, cognitive neuroscience, psychometrics or related field (either awarded or about to submit). Furthermore you have experience working on and/or managing developmental cohorts, including cognitive or MRI testing in (child) populations. To communicate with children, parents and other stakeholders, you have fluency in written and spoken Dutch.

You have a demonstrable interest in quantitative approaches (e.g. multivariate analysis, structural equation modelling, linear mixed modeling) and open science practices (e.g. data and code sharing). Participating in an interdisciplinary, international, collaborative, and translational research environment suits you well. You possess the interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate and communicate within and beyond (e.g. teachers, children) academia. You have developed computational skills (e.g. R, Python or comparable).

Desirable skills

• Expertise in (structural) neuroimaging.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• A demonstrable interest in scientific outreach.
• Expertise regarding cognitive abilities such as (working) memory, intelligence, executive functions or related.
• Expertise in developmental psychology (children/adolescence or old age).
• Experience managing large datasets (e.g., Experience Sampling data).

Employment conditions

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer: 

• A gross monthly salary of between € 3.493 and € 5.504 (scale 10) for full-time employment (36 hours per week). You will also receive an 8% vacation allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and, depending on the position, an allowance of 47% to 72% for working irregular hours.
• Plenty of opportunities to develop yourself. For example, you can follow various courses via our online learning environment. A lot of attention will also be paid to your wellbeing and vitality. For instance, you can take advantage of:
  • a 40% discount on gym membership at the Radboud Sports Center.
  • the Company Support Team and a personal coach if you experience a life-changing event.
  • a financially favorable option to work less through a generation scheme if you are approaching state retirement age.
  • support with achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. This includes advice and training (from ‘Millennial Dilemmas’ to ‘Your Career After 57’), activities at our own mindfulness center, and informal caregiving consultations if you have any questions about combining your work and caregiving tasks at home.
• 168 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. Want more vacation? You can buy additional vacation hours with your end-of-year bonus.
• 26 weeks of parental leave, of which 9 weeks are paid.
• Extra-favorable leave conditions. For example, our short-term caregiving leave is not 2 but 4 weeks per year and even 12 weeks per year for partner and child.
• Pension accrual with the ABP Pension Fund. Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension contribution.
• Discount on the supplementary packages of two collective health insurance policies and on ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• A travel allowance via our Employment Conditions Selection Model and a working-from-home allowance of €2 per day.

And that’s not all!
As a Radboudumc employee can drop your children at the Heyendael day care center on campus and enjoy discounts at our restaurant (where we serve healthy and sustainably produced meals). And thanks to our Employment Conditions Selection Model, you can choose the schemes that are right for you.

Application procedure

Are you ready to think further for our patients and our care? We would like to receive your application before 20 May 2024. We will then contact you shortly. The job interviews takes place on 4 and 6 June 2024. We would appreciate it if you would take this into account.

Good to know

• This position requires a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).
• You can find more information about our application procedure and frequently asked questions on our website.
• Will you be our new colleague? Then you will be given the time and space to get to know your role, your workplace, and your colleagues. An induction day for all new colleagues is an integral part of your onboarding program. 

We are recruiting for this position ourselves. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated, but do feel free to share the vacancy in your network!

Contact

Applicants should send a motivation letter outlining their interest in the position, their qualifications and experience related to the vacancy, a curriculum vitae and names and addresses of two professional references.

Additional information or informal queries about the vacancy can be obtained from Rogier Kievit, Professor of Developmental Neuroscience CNS or Dr. Ilse Coolen. For questions about working in the lab or on this project, feel free to approach current or previous lab members. Use the Apply button to submit your application.