PhD Position: Curiosity in the Classroom

Are you fascinated by how curiosity shapes learning in the classroom? Would you like to investigate how children seek information, explore and learn in real-world educational settings? If so, then we invite you to apply for this PhD position on Curiosity in the Classroom at Radboud University.

Curiosity is a powerful driver of learning, yet we still know relatively little about how curiosity unfolds in the classroom and how educational environments can support children in becoming curious and actively seeking information. In this PhD project, you will investigate curiosity in 10- to 12-year-old children within authentic educational settings.

The project combines experimental research, classroom studies and computational modelling to better understand what makes children curious, how they decide which information to explore, and how different ways of structuring learning environments influence curiosity and learning. Computational models will be used to characterise individual differences in information-seeking behaviour and to examine how these differences relate to learning in the classroom. A central aim is to translate insights from fundamental research on curiosity into educational practice.

You will design and conduct studies in collaboration with primary schools and educational partners, review the scientific literature, recruit and test participants, develop and evaluate educational materials and experimental tasks, analyse behavioural data, apply computational modelling techniques, and write scientific articles that will form the basis of your dissertation.

You will work closely with your supervisors, another PhD candidate investigating the cognitive neuroscience of curiosity, and a broader interdisciplinary team of researchers in psychology, cognitive neuroscience and educational science. You will also collaborate with schools, teachers and educational organisations to conduct research in real-world learning environments.

The position involves frequent communication with children, parents, teachers, schools and other stakeholders, presenting your work to national and international audiences, and contributing to teaching for approximately 10% of your time.

Does this sound like you?

• You hold, or are about to obtain, a Research Master’s or Master’s degree in educational science, psychology, cognitive science or neuroscience, artificial intelligence or a related discipline.
• You have experience with designing and conducting educational or experimental research, preferably involving children between 10 and 12 years old, and/or a strong motivation to develop expertise in educational research.
• You have experience with computational modelling and/or a strong motivation to develop expertise in computational approaches to behaviour.
• You are able to communicate clearly and sensitively with Dutch-speaking children, parents, teachers and other stakeholders involved in the research. This requires a good command of both Dutch and English, as the project involves working with Dutch-speaking children and schools and communicating research findings internationally.
• You have experience with quantitative data analysis, preferably using tools such as R, Python, MATLAB, or similar software, and are motivated to further develop your quantitative and computational skills.
• You are interested in curiosity, motivation, learning and information-seeking behaviour, and have an affinity for bridging cognitive neuroscience and educational research.
• You enjoy conducting research in real-world educational settings and are comfortable coordinating research across multiple schools. You are a collaborative team member who can also work independently, take initiative and creatively solve practical and scientific problems.

What we offer you

• 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 €3,204 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €4,051 in the fourth year.
• 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.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Where you will be working

The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour is an interfaculty research centre that houses more than 700 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 fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary and supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute.

You will be affiliated with both the Donders Institute and the Behavioural Science Institute (BSI) of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Radboud University. Your supervision team will consist of Dr Lieke van Lieshout (daily supervisor, Donders Institute), Prof. Ard Lazonder (BSI), Prof. Harold Bekkering (Donders Institute) and Dr Johanna van Schaik (BSI). This interdisciplinary supervision team brings together expertise from the Donders Institute and the Behavioural Science Institute, providing a strong foundation for collaborative research across neuroscience, behavioural science and educational science.

Faculty of Social Sciences

At the Faculty of Social Sciences, humanity and society are our focus; we study how people behave, think and feel. Within this context, we look at themes such as human behaviour and the human psyche, education and upbringing, communication, society and culture. The faculty provides education to 6,000 students and employs 700 staff. Our research is carried out within three research institutes: the Donders Centre for Cognition, the Behavioural Science Institute, and Radboud Social Cultural Research.

• Working arrangement: flexible working hours and working from home are available.
• Working hours: 38-hour working week.
• Employment: 1.0 FTE.
• Preferred start: 1 January 2027.