Postdoc in Contemplative Science

Gidacarsisiemlak; Groningen; On-site; EUR 47,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

End-of-year bonus 8.3%

Holiday allowance 8%

Vacation hours 232 per year

Job summary

The University of Groningen invites applications for a 1-year postdoc position (0.8 FTE) in contemplative science within the Bernoulli Institute. The project studies neural correlates of dissolving self-other boundaries, requiring EEG data collection during meditative states and collaboration with Tibetan monastics in India.

You will develop protocols, collect and analyze EEG data, and contribute to publications, with travel to India and engagement with multiple Consciousness Foundation projects.

Qualifications

• PhD in cognitive neuroscience or psychology with knowledge of EEG analysis.
• Experience with interdisciplinary research including meditation or Tibetan culture is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop an experimental protocol grounded in the epistemological framework of Tibetan monastics.
• Collect EEG data during meditative states in India.
• Analyze data with state-of-the-art EEG methods and prepare publications.
• Coordinate research methods with Consciousness Foundation projects and interact with staff and students.

Skills

EEG analysis

Travel willingness

Education

PhD in cognitive neuroscience or psychology

Tools

EEG analysis tools

Job description

A 1-year postdoc position (0.8 fte) in contemplative science is available at the Bernoulli Institute of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. The position is situated in the cognitive modeling group and is funded by Marieke van Vugt's Consciousness Foundation grant "Can reasoning dissolve the boundaries between self and others?". In this project, we seek to investigate the neural correlates of the dissolution of boundaries between self and others.

Faculty of Science and Engineering

The successful candidate is expected to conduct research on the effects of analytical meditation in Tibetan monastics in India. In the first part of the project, you will help to develop an experimental protocol that is grounded in the epistemological framework of the Tibetan monastics we are collaborating with. Next, you will collect the actual EEG data during the meditative states, and finally, you will analyze these data using state-of-the-art EEG analysis methods and write them up for publication.

During the project, you will be required to travel to India for conducting EEG research at least once. You are also expected to interact scientifically with other research staff and students, as well as to participate in seminars. Moreover, you will be required to interact with colleagues from other Consciousness Foundation-funded projects and coordinate research methods with these projects.

Knowledge of the Dutch language is not required.

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Who are you?

You should have a PhD degree in cognitive neuroscience or psychology with knowledge of:

• EEG analysis
• Ideally also some experience with Tibetan Buddhism or Tibetan culture

What can you expect from us?

• In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch universities, we offer a salary of at least € 4.251(salary scale 10.4)up to a maximum of € 4.599 (salary scale 10.5)gross per month for a full-time employment contract.
• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.
• The University of Groningen offers, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities;· an 80% of full-time position (0.8 FTE)· a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income· 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance.The position is limited to a period of 1 year. The starting date is flexible, but not before 01 November 2026.

Where will you be working?

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative centre of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage currently more than 35,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and the top 100 universities in the world, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

Within the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), the Bernoulli Institute conducts research combining theoretical as well as practical aspects of three disciplines, namely Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence.

The research of the cognitive modeling group focuses on understanding the mechanisms of cognition, including decision making, cognitive control, mind-wandering. The research tends to include computational modeling of cognitive processes, as well as using computational tools to conduct the research. More information is available at https://www.rug.nl/research/bernoulli/groups/cognitive-modeling/ This project, however, does not rely strongly on computational methods, and understanding of psychological and neuroscientific methods is much more important.