PhD Position in Developmental Psychology (75% position, E13 TV-L salary scale) – Starting January 1, 2027

Ruhr University Bochum; Bochum; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

Ruhr-Universität Bochum invites applications for a research associate position (m/f/x) in Developmental Psychology within the CRC project on episodic memory. The 75% role is based in Bochum with collaboration at Dortmund and offers a cumulative PhD path.

Candidates design, run, and publish longitudinal studies with 3–5 year-old children, under E13 TV-L salary scales. The successful candidate will engage in interdisciplinary work across psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, and contribute to

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Psychology or closely related field.
• Strong interest in developmental psychology and memory research.
• Motivated team player with interdisciplinary collaboration skills.
• Proactive problem-solver with daily research tasks.
• Enjoy interacting with parents and children in research.
• Fluent in German and English (spoken and written).
• Excellent methodological, programming, and statistical skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, analyze, and publish episodic memory studies in early childhood.
• Co-supervise student assistants and research students.
• Collaborate interdisciplinary within and beyond the CRC.
• Present study results at internal and external events.
• Contribute to CRC events and science communication.
• Work on public relations and outreach for the project.

Skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Programming

Statistics

German & English

Child development

Education

Master’s degree in Psychology or related field

Job description

PhD Position in Developmental Psychology (75% position, E13 TV-L salary scale) – Starting January 1, 2027

The Chair of Developmental Psychology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum invites applications for a position as a research associate (m/f/x) within a research project on the development of episodic memory in early childhood. The project will be conducted in close collaboration at two locations: Bochum and Dortmund. The successful candidate will contribute to the planning, execution, analysis, and publication of a longitudinal study involving children aged 3 to 5 years at the research site in Bochum. The project is embedded in a Collaborative Research Centre (CRC). The CRC “Episodic Memory” is an interdisciplinary consortium consisting of researchers from psychology, computational neuroscience, philosophy and neuroscience. The basis for our research is the Scenario Construction Framework which conceptualizes scenarios as mental simulations of past episodes, constructed from episodic memory traces and semantic information. As a member of this team, you will be trained in interdisciplinary research and have access to a broad spectrum of initiatives to support you in your academic journey. The CRC will be housed at the new research building THINK in Bochum, which is not only equipped with cutting edge technology, but also houses a childcare area, parent child offices, common rooms to foster networking, etc. The position offers the opportunity for scientific qualification through a cumulative PhD. Employment is subject to final approval and funding by the third-party funding provider.

Your tasks:

• Design, implementation, analysis, and publication of studies on the development of episodic memory in early childhood
• (Co-)supervision of student assistants and research students
• Proactive interdisciplinary collaboration and exchange within and beyond the CRC throughout the research process
• Presentation of study results at internal and external events and scientific conferences
• Active participation in CRC events
• Regular contribution to public relations and science communication

Your profile:

Required:

• A Master’s degree in Psychology or a closely related field
• A strong interest in developmental psychology research on memory and enthusiasm for scientific work
• A highly motivated team player who enjoys collaborating with researchers from various disciplines, particularly in the areas of modeling, philosophy, and neuroscience
• Proactive problem-solver in daily work
• Enjoyment of interacting with parents and children in a research context
• Fluent proficiency in German and English (written and spoken)
• Excellent methodological, programming, and statistical skills

Desired

• Practical experience working with infants and young children in a research context
• Prior experience in interdisciplinary research settings

We offer:

• A stimulating research environment
• Opportunities for collaboration with researchers from various disciplines
• Challenging and varied tasks with a high degree of autonomy
• Cooperative work in an engaged, international, and collegial team
• Opportunities for science communication
• The possibility for scientific qualification through a cumulative PhD

Further information:

The position is salaried and based on the collective agreement of the Länder (TV-L). If the personal and collective agreement requirements are met, the employee will receive pay grade E 13 TVL TV-L.

Equal opportunity statements:

Ruhr-Universität Bochum stands for diversity and equal opportunities. For this reason, we favour a working environment composed of heterogeneous teams, and seek to promote the careers of individuals who are underrepresented in our respective professional areas. The Ruhr-Universität Bochum expressly requests job applications from women. In areas in which they are underrepresented they will be given preference in the case of equivalent qualifications with male candidates. Applications from individuals with disabilities are most welcome.

Contact persons for further information:

Prof. Dr. Sabine Seehagen