Employment 0.8 FTE
Gross monthly salary € 3,059 - € 3,881
Required background Research University Degree
Organizational unit Faculty of Social Sciences
Application deadline 03 August 2026
Are you fascinated by the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying curiosity in 10- to 12-year-old children? Would you like to contribute to an ambitious research project combining behavioural studies, fMRI and computational modelling? If so, then we invite you to apply for this PhD position in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Curiosity at the Donders Centre for Cognition.
Curiosity is a powerful driver of learning, yet we still know relatively little about the neurocognitive mechanisms that support curiosity in children. In this PhD project, you will investigate curiosity in 10- to 12-year-old children from a behavioural, neural and computational perspective.
The project combines behavioural experiments, fMRI and computational modelling to better understand how children become curious, how they decide to seek information and how curiosity supports learning and memory. You will design and conduct experimental studies, review the scientific literature, recruit and test participants, analyse behavioural and neuroimaging data and write scientific articles that will form the basis of your dissertation.
You will work closely with your supervisors, another PhD candidate in Educational Sciences and a broader interdisciplinary team at the Donders Centre for Cognition. The position also involves communicating with children, parents and schools, presenting your work to national and international audiences, and contributing to teaching for approximately 10% of your time.
Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.
Does this sound like you?
- You hold, or are about to obtain, a Research Master’s or Master’s degree in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science, educational science, artificial intelligence or a related discipline.
- You have experience with designing and running behavioural experiments, preferably with children between 10 and 12 years old.
- You have experience with fMRI research, or you are strongly motivated to develop expertise in neuroimaging methods.
- You have experience with computational modelling and/or quantitative data analysis, preferably using tools such as Python, R, MATLAB or similar software.
- You have an affinity for educational research and are interested in translating insights from cognitive neuroscience to learning contexts.
- You are able to communicate clearly and sensitively with children, parents, teachers and other stakeholders involved in the research.
- You are a collaborative team member who can also work independently, take initiative and solve problems creatively.
- You have a good command of Dutch and English. This is a requirement because the project involves testing Dutch-speaking children and communicating research findings internationally.
What we offer you
- We will give you a temporary employment contract (0.8 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 3.5 years (5-year contract).
- You will receive a starting salary of €3,059 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €€3,881 from the fourth year onwards (salary scale P).
- 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. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. 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 membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.
Where you will be working
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 computing & 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, supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute.
Faculty of Social Sciences
At the Faculty of Social Sciences, humanity and society are our focus; we study how people behave, think and feel. Within this context, we look at themes such as human behaviour and the human psyche, education and upbringing, communication, society and culture. The faculty provides education to 6,000 students and employs 700 staff. Education is organised into six programme clusters: Psychology; Artificial Intelligence; Pedagogical Sciences and Educational Sciences; Communication Science; Sociology; and Cultural Anthropology and Developmental Sociology, and the Radboud Centre Social Sciences as an institute for post-master education have been merged into the Social Sciences Education Institute. Our research is carried out within three research institutes: the Donders Centre for Cognition, the Behavioural Science Institute, and Radboud Social Cultural Research.
Radboud University
At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.
If you want to learn more about working at Radboud University, follow our Instagram account and read stories from our colleagues.
Is this the job for you?
You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Lieke van Lieshout. 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 Wednesday 12 August. Any second interview will take place on Wednesday 19 August. You will preferably start your employment 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.
Application deadline 03 August 2026
We would like to recruit our new colleague ourselves. Acquisition in response to this vacancy will not be appreciated.
Want to know more about this position?
Dr L.L.F. van Lieshout (Lieke)
[email protected]
