Post Doc in Cognitive Neuroscience

Ref PAR 2022/680

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Psychology has around 160 employees and conducts extensive research and education in interaction with society. International reviewers have rated the research conducted as excellent, and the number of students applying for programs and elective courses is very high. Visit The Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg (gu.se) for more information.

The department of psychology is seeking a postdoctor in psychology, especially cognitive neuroscience.

Subject area description

Learning complex skills are of great importance for an individual’s development throughout life. By using behavioral experiments, psychometric methods, and neuroimaging, our research group investigates the principal mechanisms that govern human learning across the life span, the changes in the brain that affect learning in older age, and the role that learning plays in development and aging. Ultimately, we hope that the knowledge we gain will aid humans to learn and develop more successfully throughout life.

Job assignments

The postdoc is expected to take a leading role in the planning, implementation and reporting of a project investigating the effects of learning skills on the brain volume and synaptic density of older adults’ brains, measured with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron-Emission Tomografi (PET). Contributions to other ongoing data collections and reporting of already collected data in related studies will also be a part of the duties. Teaching and supervision can also be included, but for a maximum of 20% of the working time. The employee is expected to conduct the major share of the duties on site in Gothenburg.   

Eligibility

A person is eligible for employment as postdoctoral research fellow if he or she has obtained a Swedish PhD or foreign equivalent, in relevant subject area, at the time of the decision of employment. Individuals who have obtained their PhD less than three years ago (counted from the last date of accepted applications) are prioritized for employment as a post-doctoral fellow. A person who has been previously employed at the University of Gothenburg as a post-doctoral fellow during more than one year cannot be employed again within the same or related fields at the university.

Assessment

In the selection of eligible applicants, an applicant will be selected who, after a global evaluation of skills (based on merits, experience, and personal characteristics) and development potential, is judged to have the best possibilities for completing the job assignments described above. We are searching for an outstanding researcher with a background in cognitive neuroscience and an interest in brain plasticity and aging. Skills in analyses of MRI and/or PET data are meritorious, so are knowledge in statistics and psychometrics. Experience of larger data collections involving experimental methods or interventions in the context of research questions in psychology or cognitive neuroscience are also meritorious. The candidate must be a proficient communicator, orally and in writing, in English. Proficiency in Swedish is meritorious. Personal characteristics like planning ability, reliability, independence, ability to work with others, and communication skills will also be considered.

Interviews, presentations and references may be part of the selection process and be a part of the assessment.

Appointment procedure

You apply via University of Gothenburgs recruitment portal.

1. A personal letter describing the applicant’s research interests and background in research.
2. A complete curriculum vitae, including data of PhD, title of the thesis, and the supervisors’ names, and a complete list of publications.
3. Contact information (name, email, phone number) to two persons willing to give references.

Employment

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, 24 months (with the possibility of a one-year extension); Extent: 100 %; Location: Department of Psychology, Gothenburg. First day of employment: September 1, 2022.

For further information:

More information about the position, project and job assignments can be received by Professor Martin Lövdén, martin.lovden@psy.gu.se, 031-786 3233. 

For questions about the recruitment process and employment at the department, please contact HR-Officer Therese Björkäng, therese.bjorkang@psy.gu.se, 031-786 1632.

Application deadline: 30 May 2022

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.