PhD Candidate: Computational Cognitive Neuroscience – Decision Confidence

Are you fascinated by the brain mechanisms behind perceptual decision making, sensory uncertainty, and decision confidence? Do you want to understand how we actively gather information across the senses to navigate an uncertain world? Join our multidisciplinary team as a PhD candidate to investigate these questions!

Almost every decision we make is accompanied by a feeling of confidence – a subjective assessment of how likely we are to be correct. This feeling of confidence allows us to evaluate our decisions and adjust our actions accordingly. Imagine you are about to cross a busy street. You rely on your sight and hearing to gauge if an oncoming truck will stop in time. But what factors influence your confidence in that judgment, and how does that confidence shape your next actions? This PhD project seeks to unravel the computations and neural mechanisms of these complex processes.

As a PhD candidate, you will also have the opportunity to develop valuable skills by mentoring students, participating in international conferences, and collaborating with leading researchers in the field. We offer access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources, and a supportive environment for your academic and professional development. Your teaching load may be up to 5% of your working time.

Profile

• You have an MSc or BSc degree in neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, psychology, computer science, physics, engineering, or a related field with a strong quantitative background.
• You are enthusiastic about research and excel academically.
• You have excellent data analysis and statistics skills and are proficient in relevant programming languages and software.
• Prior experience with psychophysics, fMRI, MEG/EEG or computational modelling (e.g. Bayesian, neural network) would be a plus.
• Prior research in perception, attention, statistical learning or related fields would be advantageous. You are proactive, self-motivated, enjoy working independently and are also a team player who thrives in a collaborative and open lab culture.
• Because of EU mobility rules, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than twelve months in the past three years.

We are

The PhD position is based in the Multisensory Perception, Learning and Attention lab, headed by Prof. Uta Noppeney, at the Donders Centres for Cognitive Neuroimaging and Neuroscience. The lab aims to understand how the brain processes and interacts with the multisensory world. Research methods include computational modelling (Bayesian, neural network), psychophysics, and neuroimaging (fMRI, MEG, EEG, TMS).

The PhD position is part of an international network of nine research labs across Europe. You will receive interdisciplinary training in theories and methods for the study of decision confidence, including many network-wide events and other international training opportunities. The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour is a world-class interfaculty research centre that houses more than 700 researchers devoted to understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of the human mind. 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 Cognitive Neuroimaging centre is equipped with four MRI scanners (7T, 3x 3T), a 275-channel MEG system, an EEG-TMS laboratory, several MR-compatible EEG systems and high-performance computational facilities. The Donders Institute fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary, supportive research environment with diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute. The Donders Institute is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities.

Radboud University

We are keen to meet critical thinkers who want to look closer at what really matters. People who, from their expertise, wish to contribute to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This ambition unites more than 24,000 students and 5,600 employees at Radboud University and requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play!

Radboud University

At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Will you also contribute to making the world a little better? You have a part to play.

Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science (FNWI), part of Radboud University, engages in groundbreaking research and excellent education. In doing so, we push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and pass that knowledge on to the next generation.

We seek solutions to major societal challenges, such as cybercrime and climate change and work on major scientific challenges, such as those in the quantum world. At the same time, we prepare our students for careers both within and outside the scientific field.

Currently, more than 1,300 colleagues contribute to research and education, some as researchers and lecturers, others as technical and administrative support officers. The faculty has a strong international character with staff from more than 70 countries. Together, we work in an informal, accessible and welcoming environment, with attention and space for personal and professional development for all.

We offer

• 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 €2,770 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,539 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Support Service. The Dual Career Programme assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. Our Family Support Service helps you and your partner feel welcome and at home by providing customised assistance in navigating local facilities, schools, and amenities. Also take a look at our support for international staff page to discover all our services for international employees.
• 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. 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.