EEG Post-doctoral position in neuroscience of language

University of Modena and Reggio Emilia; Italia; On-site; EUR 33,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy will open a two-year postdoctoral position in cognitive neuroscience, as part of the ERC Consolidator project READy which aims to link brain structure to reading behavior. The project is led by a cognitive neuroscientist focused on reading-related brain changes.

Ideal candidates should have a PhD in Neuroscience or related fields with strong EEG methods applied to reading processing in children and adults, plus programming experience (Python,

Qualifications

• Ideal candidates hold a PhD in Neuroscience or related field.
• Strong EEG expertise and experience in reading processing.
• Proficiency in Python or R and HPC or related data tools.
• Excellent written and oral communication for publications and talks.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cognitive neuroscience research using EEG in reading-related tasks.
• Analyze data with Python/R and advanced statistical methods.
• Contribute to manuscript writing, presentations, and project development.
• Collaborate with an international network of partners and supervise junior researchers.

Skills

EEG expertise

Neuroscience knowledge

Strong communication

Education

PhD in Neuroscience or related field

Tools

Python

R

HPC

Job description

Dept. Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences

Organisation/Company University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Department Dept. Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences Research Field Neurosciences » Neuropsychology Language sciences » Languages Psychological sciences » Cognitive science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 19 Oct 2026 - 13:00 (Europe/Rome) Country Italy Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 11 Jan 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Reference Number ERC-2025-COG READy (grant agreement number: 101229459) Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy) will open a two-year postdoctoral position in cognitive neuroscience, with appointment expected to begin between November 2026 and January 2027. This position will be part of the ERC Consolidator project READy “Connecting human brain structure to function within the READing circuitry”, which aims to reach a deeper understanding of reading behavior by linking structural and functional properties of the brain. The project is led by Prof. Sendy Caffarra, a cognitive neuroscientist of language with a research focus on reading-related changes in the brain and behavior.

Ideal candidates should have a PhD in Neuroscience or related fields and will have strong expertise in EEG methods applied to the study of reading processing in both children and adults.
Knowledge of Italian is desirable but not essential. A good foundation in programming (Python, R), HPC systems, and statistical methods (e.g., LMMs, Bayesian approaches) would also be an asset.
The postdoctoral researchers are expected to take an active role in the conceptual development of the project, show excellent written and oral communication skills, as evidenced by publications and conference presentations, and convey complex scientific concepts to specialist and non-specialist audiences. Opportunities for teaching, supervision of junior researchers and involvement in grant-related activities will also be available. The position offers advanced training in multi-method data integration, within a highly interdisciplinary research environment.

The contract is full-time with a salary ranging from € 33,000 to € 39,000/year gross depending on the candidates’ track records. Researchers relocating to Italy from abroad may be eligible for the Italian tax incentive (“Rientro dei Cervelli”), under which 90% of qualifying employment income is exempt from Italian income tax for an initial period of six years.

The project will be based at the Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences in Unimore (Modena, Italy), which hosts multidisciplinary research bridging basic sciences, clinical medicine and cognitive neuroscience. MRI and EEG facilities are available. Unimore is a historic university founded in 1175 and has a long research tradition in the domains of neuropsychology and medical sciences. Located in the heart of both the Biomedical Valley and the Italian Motor Valley, it is a major driver of cutting-edge innovations in biomedical devices, informatics and computer science, with implications across a wide range of disciplines, including education and clinical practice.
The project will be part of an international collaboration network including Stanford University, the University of Washington and the University of Zurich.