Key Skills

Job Description

Are you passionate about cognitive neuroscience and EEG research? Join our ERC-funded project exploring how the brain localises touch and represents the body in space. You will collaborate in an interdisciplinary research team and contribute to innovative studies using EEG, virtual reality, robotics and computational methods. You will be part of the project 'The Body Positioning System: A GPS for somatosensory space'. The goal of the project is to uncover how the brain localises touch on the body in three dimensions (the body positioning system). How does the brain transform sensory input on the skin to a full-fledged three-dimensional body representation? To make headway on this fundamental question, we are using a variety of neuroscientific approaches such as behavioural and M/EEG experiments that employ novel virtual reality and robot-based paradigms. We are also leveraging several analytical tools such as computational modelling and machine learning. As a Research Assistant, you will help collect, analyse and interpret EEG data collected in the lab over a nine month period. Throughout your employment, your work will involve close collaboration with fellow members of the team, including MSc students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. There will be weekly team meetings to discuss project progress as well as weekly lab meetings. You will specifically be involved in two research projects: the first project will investigate which neural oscillations are involved in transforming touch from a sensory signal (i.e. where is the touch in space?) into a motor command (i.e. how should I move my eyes to look at the touch?). This question gets at the heart of the body positioning system. The second project will investigate how these sensorimotor transformations are re-used for representing tools in space. Specifically, this project will investigate which neural oscillations underly the ability to localise and represent finger-extending exoskeletons in space. This project addresses how plastic the body positioning system is. Profile You hold a MSc degree in Cognitive Neuroscience or a relevant discipline such as Artificial Intelligence, Psychology, Cognitive Science or Engineering. You have a strong interest in and expertise in studying the neural correlates of tactile body representation. You have experience with collecting and analysing EEG data. You have experience with common programming languages such as Matlab, Python, R or C++. You are a team player who possesses good social, communication and organisational skills. You have a passion for science and the pursuit of knowledge. We offer We will give you a temporary employment contract of 9 months. Your salary within salary scale 7 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week. You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. Additional Employment Conditions Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes. We are The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour is a world-class interfaculty research centre that houses more than 700 researchers devoted to understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of the human mind. Research at the Donders Institute is focused around four themes: Language and communication. Perception, action and decision making. Development and lifelong plasticity. Natural computation and neurotechnology. Excellent, state-of-the-art research facilities are available for the broad range of neuroscience research that is being conducted at the Donders Institute. The Donders Institute has been assessed by an international evaluation committee as 'excellent' and recognised as a 'very stimulating environment for top researchers, as well as for young talent'. The Donders Institute fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary and supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute. Practical information and applying You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Luke Miller. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application. We look forward to receiving your application. The first interviews will take place on Monday 12 October. Any second interview will take place on Monday 19 October. You will preferably start your employment on 1 November 2026 or as soon as possible. We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information. Do you already work at Radboud University and have questions about making an internal move? Learn more about internal applications.

Core Responsibilities

The Research Assistant will collect, analyze, and interpret EEG data for projects investigating the body positioning system and sensorimotor transformations. They will collaborate closely with an interdisciplinary team of students and researchers through regular lab and team meetings.

Requirements

Candidates must hold an MSc degree in Cognitive Neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence, Psychology, Cognitive Science, or Engineering. Proficiency in EEG data analysis and programming languages such as Matlab, Python, R, or C++ is required.

Benefits

• 8% Holiday allowance
• 8.3% End-of-year bonus
• Extra days off
• Flexible working hours
• Leave arrangements
• Work from home
• Pension plan
• Training and development schemes
• Sports subscription reimbursement