PhD Student for the ‘Cognitive Neuroscience of Social Decision-making’ (1,0 fte)
Faculty of Social Sciences
Maximum salary: € 2,612 gross/month
Vacancy number: 24.17.12
Closing date: 31 March 2012
Responsibilities
This project will conduct research at the intersection of behavioural decision-making and neuroscience, investigating the brain mechanisms that underlie human decision-making. This approach to the study of how people make decisions and choices, known as Decision Neuroscience/Neuroeconomics, offers an exciting avenue to examine interactive decision-making by combining the methods of behavioural experiments, functional neuroimaging, and formal economic models. Use of this innovative methodology has the potential to advance our knowledge of existing theoretical accounts by constraining models based on the underlying neurobiology, as well as informing public policy debates.
This project will employ the Decision Neuroscience approach to explore decision-making related to the social processes of trust, reciprocity, and equality. These processes are vital for the successful functioning of society, but there have been few in-depth studies on how they operate. In this project, we will examine in detail the psychological factors behind these processes, and also explore the brain mechanisms involved. In addition, we will use formal economic methods to create computational models of this behaviour.
An example of the type of study we will use is the detailed investigation of how trust is bestowed, exploring the influence of automatically processed cues, such as facial appearance, and how people learn to trust from experience. We will also examine how trust is then reciprocated, in particular the role of socioemotional factors in repaying trust.
Work environment
The Faculty of Social Sciences is one of the largest faculties at Radboud University Nijmegen. The faculty currently employs approximately 650 employees. The faculty’s ambition is to become one of the top social science institutes in Europe, providing high-quality research and study programmes that rank among the best in the Netherlands.
Behavioural Science Institute: This research is embedded in the Social Cognition Priority Programme of the Behavioural Science Institute (BSI). The BSI is a modern research institute in behavioural science in which highly qualified researchers conduct quantitative empirical research using state-of-the-art facilities. The institute’s mission is to conduct research on the fundamental principles and processes that govern human behaviour. As a distinctive feature, the BSI emphasizes an integrative approach to human behaviour which transcends the traditional disciplinary boundaries that characterize contemporary research in psychology. The BSI is a research school officially recognized by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, providing excellent research facilities and high-quality training for PhD students.
The research is also embedded in the Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging of the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. The institute’s mission is to conduct cutting-edge fundamental research in cognitive neuroscience. Much of the rapid progress in this field is being driven by the development of complex neuroimaging techniques for the in-vivo scanning of activity in the human brain – an area in which the centre plays a leading role. The research themes cover central cognitive functions, such as perception, action, attention, decision-making, memory, language, and learning. The Centre also aims to establish how the different brain areas coordinate their activity with very high temporal precision to enable human cognition.
What we expect from you
You have a relevant Master’s degree, preferably with a background in cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, social psychology, or biological psychology. The ideal candidate for this position combines skills in functional neuroimaging, and cognitive neuroscience more broadly, with a background in the study of behavioral decision-making. However, candidates with qualifications in relevant disciplines and enthusiasm for broadening their existing scientific portfolio will also be considered. Expertise in experimental design, computational modeling and/or econometrics is considered an advantage.
What we have to offer
We offer you:
– employment: 1,0 fte;
– a maximum gross monthly salary of € 2,612 based on a 38-hour working week;
– in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
– the starting salary is € 2,042 per month on a full-time basis; the salary will increase to € 2,612 per month in the fourth year;
– you will be appointed as a PhD student (1 FTE) for a total of 4 years. Your performance will be evaluated after 18 months. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years. As part of the contract, you will participate in educational activities (i.e. teaching students); – you will be ranked in the Dutch university job-ranking system (UFO) as a PhD student (promovendus).
Applications
Are you interested?
It is Radboud University Nijmegen’s policy to only accept applications by e-mail. Please send your application, stating vacancy number 24.17.12, to vacancies@socsci.ru.nl, for the attention of Human Resource Department, before 31 March 2012.
No commercial propositions please.
