PhD Candidate in Decision-Making / Computational Psychiatry
We invite applications for a fully funded 4-year PhD student in the field of cognitive/affective neuroscience. This position is embedded in the Learning & Decision-Making lab (PI: Hanneke den Ouden) at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, as part of the Vidi project “Getting things done: Unravelling the neurocognitive mechanisms of adaptive decision-making”.
The overarching aim of our research is to establish the computational and neuropharmacological mechanisms of human (mal)adaptive decision-making. The focus of this PhD position will be to investigate in both healthy and psychiatric populations how disparate decision systems may act both synergistically and competitively, depending on environmental demands. You will investigate the neurobiological basis of decision-making, using a combination of psychopharmacology, experimental psychology, neuroimaging and computational modeling. There will be a strong focus on the role of dopamine and/or serotonin and fronto-striatal circuitry. You will have the following tools at your disposal: fMRI, psychopharmacology and large-scale web-based behavioural testing, potentially combined with EEG/MEG and patient research. You will also participate in conceptually developing the framework for understanding the neurochemistry of the adaptive mind.
What we expect from you
Essential qualities:
· a Master’s degree in Psychology, Neurosciences, Computer Science or a related field;
· experience in quantitative analysis;
· fluent English (writing/speaking);
· the capacity to work in an interdisciplinary and translational research environment;
· good interpersonal and communication skills;
· proactive and goal-directed attitude, good organizational skills, and the ability to get things done.
Non-essential, desirable skills:
· computational modeling
· Python, R, MATLAB, Javascript
· fMRI or EEG/MEG analysis
· psychopharmacology
· working with patient populations
· experimental design
For more information, please visit https://www.ru.nl/english/working-at/jobopportunities/details/details-vacature/?recid=601954