PhD Student Clinical Psychological Science

PhD Student. We are looking for a PhD Student with a strong interest in experimental psychopathology and who has affinity with fMRI research, for a project that aims to further our understanding of the brain mechanisms that are involved in bad habits following exposure to acute stress.

Job Specifications - (uitleg)

Solliciteer binnen 12 dagen op deze vacature

Job Description

The position is part of an NWO VIDI grant awarded to Dr. Tom Smeets and is embedded within the Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN), Maastricht University.

Background: Stress is omnipresent in our modern society. While our psychophysiological responses to stress generally serve adaptive purposes such as promoting the use of simple habits over complex goal-directed behavior, such a preference for habits under stress may constitute a risk factor for psychopathology in vulnerable individuals. For example, stress often precedes binge eating episodes and is reported by people with a substance addiction as a primary reason for relapsing. The overall aim of this VIDI project is to better understand why some people, when stressed, revert to their old, maladaptive habits (e.g., bingeing, smoking, drinking) by unravelling the underlying brain mechanisms (including the relative engagement of the amygdala, striatum, and orbitofrontal cortex). This will subsequently be linked to an experimental study to relate the brain mechanisms to real-life eating behavior. Also, a possible modulating role for inhibition and decision-making, which are closely linked to bad habits, is examined. These issues are studied in both healthy subjects and patients with binge eating disorder.

Job description: Designing and carrying out behavioural and fMRI studies, analysing the gathered data, and publishing the findings in scientific journals, which will ultimately lead to your doctoral dissertation.

Requirements

• A Master’s degree in cognitive or clinical psychology, experimental psychopathology, cognitive neuroscience, or related discipline.

• A strong interest in experimental psychopathology, a strong motivation to conduct experimental research across disciplines.

• Well-developed analytical skills and creativity. 


• Good writing and presentation skills (English and preferably Dutch).

• Affinity (and preferably experience) with fMRI research.

• Having successfully completed a research master programme is an advantage, as is having relevant research experience.

Conditions

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees

Temporary employment for 4 years. Your salary would be € 2.174,-- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.779,-- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-student salary scale. Each year an evaluation will take place.

Employment: Temporary, 4 years

Organisation

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,000 students and 4,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Additional Information

Information: Interviews will be held in July and/or August 2016; preferably the candidate can start September/October 2016. For further information, you can contact dr. Tom Smeets, phone: +31 (0)43 3884506, e-mail: tom.smeets@maastrichtuniversity.nl.