Neural Mechanisms of Imagery and Perception at the Donders Centre for Cognition

Neural activity in the visual cortex can result from external visual input but also from internal processes such as mental imagery. What is the relationship between such external (seeing) and internal (thinking) representations? How do we flexibly prioritise one over the other?

The Donders Centre for Cognition (PI group of Prof. M. Peelen) is looking for a PhD candidate to address these questions. You will use neuroimaging methods (fMRI, EEG) and behavioural experiments to investigate how the human brain combines imagery and perception, and how people differ in this ability. You will also have the possibility to investigate the neural mechanisms of switching attention between internal and external representations, and how healthy aging affects this process. The specific projects you will work on depend on your skills and interests; your creative input is appreciated.

You will be based in Nijmegen, where you will join the Visual Cognitive Neuroscience Group headed by Prof. Marius Peelen. You will collaborate with other groups at the Donders Institute, including the group of Dr Iris Wiegand.

In addition to writing your thesis, you will disseminate the project findings through scientific journal articles, presentations at conferences, and group and project meetings, as well as through public engagement events. You will spend about 10% of your time (0.1 FTE) assisting with teaching at our department.

Profile

• You have a Master’s degree in neuroscience, cognitive science, psychology, artificial intelligence, or a related field.
• You have experience with programming in MATLAB, Python, or a similar environment.
• You have excellent communication skills in English (both written and oral).
• You preferably have experience in collecting and analysing functional neuroimaging data.

We are

The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour is a world-class interfaculty research centre that houses more than 1000 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 has been assessed by an international evaluation committee as ‘excellent’ and recognised as a ‘very stimulating environment for top researchers, as well as for young talent’. The Donders Institute fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary and supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute.

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 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. Education is organised into six programme clusters: Psychology; Artificial Intelligence; Pedagogical Sciences and Educational Sciences; Communication Science; Sociology; and Cultural Anthropology and Developmental Sociology, and the Radboud Centre Social Sciences as an institute for post-master education have been merged into the Social Sciences Education Institute. Our research is carried out within three research institutes: the Donders Centre for Cognition, the Behavioural Science Institute, and Radboud Social Cultural Research.

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 €2,901 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,707 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• 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.