Postdoc Position: A Model-Based Approach to Understanding Cognitive Development in Early Childhood

Radboud University; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday allowance

8.3% end-of-year bonus

Flexible leave options (30 or 41 days)

Job summary

Radboud University invites applications for a junior postdoctoral researcher to join the BabyBRAIN and Uncertainty in Complex Systems labs. You will develop, validate, and implement Bayesian cognitive models that reveal latent cognitive processes in infancy and test them empirically with infants.

You will collaborate with PIs Hunnius, Meyer and Hinne, and work closely with Dr Sabine Hunnius and Dr Max Hinne to advance interdisciplinary cognitive science and developmental psychology research.

Qualifications

• PhD in cognitive science, developmental cognitive neuroscience, AI, or related field.
• Strong motivation for interdisciplinary empirical research at the intersection of cognitive science and developmental psychology.
• Experience with computational modelling techniques and their application in cognitive science.
• Proven problem-solving skills and an ability to take a strong, positive and proactive approach to work.
• Experience with experimental developmental psychology is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and implement Bayesian cognitive models that capture latent cognitive processes in infancy and test them empirically in infants.
• Apply advanced computational modelling to understand human cognitive development and infant learning.
• Collaborate with PIs Hunnius, Meyer and Hinne; work closely with Dr Sabine Hunnius and Dr Max Hinne.

Skills

Interdisciplinary research

Computational modelling

Problem solving

Team work / Independent work

Education

PhD in cognitive science or related field

Tools

Bayesian modelling

Job description

Psychological sciences » Cognitive science

Organisation/Company Radboud University Research Field Psychological sciences » Cognitive science Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 14 Sep 2026 - 21:59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 38.0 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

How do infants learn, and how does early learning influence later intelligence? Join our interdisciplinary research team to develop and empirically test innovative Bayesian cognitive models that reveal the hidden cognitive processes underlying early development.

Are you interested in applying advanced computational modelling to understand human cognitive development? In this position, you will contribute to the development of the next generation of computational models of infant cognition. By integrating Bayesian cognitive modelling with longitudinal developmental data, you will help to identify the cognitive signatures of infant learning and understand how they shape later intelligence.

You will join the BabyBRAIN (PIs: Hunnius & Meyer) and the Uncertainty in Complex Systems lab (PI: Hinne) as a junior postdoctoral researcher. You will develop, validate, and implement Bayesian cognitive models that capture latent cognitive processes in infancy and test them empirically in infants. In this role, you will work closely with Dr Sabine Hunnius and Dr Max Hinne .

• You hold a PhD in cognitive science, developmental cognitive neuroscience, AI, or a related field.
• You have a strong motivation to conduct interdisciplinary empirical research at the intersection of cognitive science and developmental psychology.
• You have experience with computational modelling techniques and their application in cognitive science.
• You possess proven problem-solving skills and an ability to take a strong, positive and proactive approach to work. You are versatile, flexible and able to work in a team as well as independently.
• Experience with experimental developmental psychology is a plus.

Additional Information

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 3 year(s).
• Your salary within salary scale 11 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.