Postdoctoral Fellowship @ Connected Minds Lab – Amsterdam
The Connected Minds Lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of Amsterdam seeks applicants for a postdoctoral researcher position. The lab takes a joint experimental and developmental approach to study judgment, decision-making, and social learning.
We focus on social influence on decision-making in the context of real social networks in high-schools (and on-line environments). Using social network analyses in combination with controlled longitudinal and experimental studies we aim to elucidate the impact of different sources of social information on behavior (funded by an NWO Vidi and an ERC starting grant).
The primary goal of the project is to gain insights in the neural mechanisms of social information use in decision-making. Topics of interest are how real social networks are represented and how social information of different sources is integrated. During the project we will rely on computational models of social information processing and link these to brain function.
The project is embedded in a larger project on social learning in social networks on which several PhD students and post docs are currently working. You are expected to develop research projects in collaboration with the team, but there is also ample room for the development of individual projects under supervision of dr. Wouter van den Bos.
For more information about the lab, please visit http://bits-of-information.org/DDN/
Desired Skills: Candidates should preferably hold a Ph.D. in psychology or cognitive neuroscience
The following skills are also strongly desired:
- Demonstrated scientific expertise, with publications in refereed journals
- Strong interest in experimental research and has experience with advanced neuroimaging techniques (in particular MVPA and representational similarity analyses).
- Excellent writing skills
- Ability to (and affinity with) work in a team
- Motivated to contribute to open science practices.
The following will count in favor of the candidate: solid programming skills, knowledge of computational modelling or social network analyses, and experience with developmental populations. Mastery of the Dutch language is helpful but not strictly necessary.
The appointment is for up to two years. The initial appointment is for one year. Renewal for a second year is contingent on satisfactory performance, acceptable progress in carrying out the assigned duties, and mutual agreement.
You will be joining a young and interdisciplinary lab that is embedded in the psychology research institute of the the University of Amsterdam (http://psyres.uva.nl/). The Department of Psychology is internationally renowned for its high-quality research and advanced methods. Further things we have to offer: competitive pay and excellent benefits; very friendly, interactive and international working environment; office located in the city center of one of Europe’s most beautiful and lively cities.
Imaging studies will take place at the Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging. This is a Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences offers a resourceful and stimulating scientific environment and houses a fully equipped 3T Philips scanner dedicated to research (in the basement of the psychology department) (https://www.spinozacentre.nl/)
The appointment can start as soon as the Fall, but we will consider candidates who can start at a later date. Currently with COVID restrictions it is hard to plan studies and contact our study population so planning will of start will be based on most recent developments and projections.
Please send your CV, motivation and reference letter(s) to w.vandenbos@uva.nl (or if you have further questions)