PhD Position: Neuroscience, AI and Medicine – Exploring Neural Mechanisms of Movement

Are you an enthusiastic young scientist eager to work at the intersection of neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and medicine? Do you hold a Master’s degree that has equipped you with strong skills in mathematics and programming, and do you have a keen interest in neurobiology? If so, we invite you to apply for a fully funded PhD position within our team.

Losing the ability to precisely time movements can lead to debilitating motor disorders. Our research addresses this challenge in two ways:

1. We investigate the fundamental neural mechanisms that control movement.
2. We explore engineering-based solutions to restore function when these pathways are disrupted.

As a PhD candidate, you will contribute to both aspects, from studying the brain’s control of movement to applying these insights in the development of closed-loop brain–computer interfaces aimed at restoring motor function in models of motor disorder. Some part of the role may involve teaching and up to 0.1 FTE of your time may entail teaching activities.

A fully funded PhD position is available starting in January 2026. You will receive comprehensive training and mentoring within an interdisciplinary and international research environment. This position offers excellent opportunities to present your work at academic conferences, engage in collaborative research projects, and actively develop both your academic and professional profile.

Does this sound like you?

• You hold a Master’s degree in neuroscience, electrical engineering, computer science or a related discipline.
• You have experience in empirical research in neurophysiology or computational neuroscience/machine learning.
• You possess solid programming and software engineering skills.
• You have excellent written and spoken English skills.
• You are a proactive team player, who enjoys engaging with others at network-wide training events.

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 €3,059 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,881 in the fourth year.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands.
• 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

At the Narain lab, we study the neural mechanisms underlying time perception and motor control using an intersection of electrophysiology, computational models, genetics and machine learning. We also leverage mechanistic principles that we discover to develop effective brain-computer interfaces for movement restoration. Furthermore, we develop machine learning tools in the domain of unsupervised learning to support rapid closed-looped solutions for neural interfaces.

Our team is located at the Erasmus Medical Center (Rotterdam, Netherlands) and the Donders Center for Neuroscience (Nijmegen, Netherlands). This enables us to dynamically switch between fundamental brain research and medical applications. We also have strong international collaborations that provide our students with opportunities to work in international teams around the world. We have attracted substantial external funding from Dutch and EU funding agencies and are looking forward to welcoming new members into the fold.

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.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.

Contact: devika.narain [at] ru.nl