Scientific research assistant Cognitive Neuropsychology

Tilburg University; Tilburg; Hybrid; EUR 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Home office allowance

Internet allowance

Job summary

Tilburg University is seeking a Scientific Research Assistant in Cognitive Neuropsychology to join a pilot neuromodulation project. The role involves running TMS sessions, collecting intensive longitudinal data via EMA, and contributing to data analysis within a multidisciplinary team.

The position supports an innovative study at the intersection of neuroscience and data science, offering room for methodological development and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's in (neuro-)psychology, social or biomedical sciences, (bio-)engineering, or related field.
• Interest in neuromodulation, symptom dynamics, and clinical research.
• Comfort with data analysis tools (R, STATA) or willingness to learn.
• Experience with neuroscience methods is a plus, not required.
• Initiative, collaboration, and attention to detail are essential.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and schedule participants and run EMA and iTBS sessions.
• Follow predefined TMS procedures under supervision.
• Monitor EMA data collection and participant compliance.
• Contribute to processing and analysis of intensive longitudinal data.
• Document workflows and collaborate on interim findings.

Skills

Statistics software

R

STATA

Neuroscience

Data collection

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in neuro-/psychology, social or biomedical sciences, or related field

Tools

TMS equipment

EMA smartphone app

Data analysis software

Job description

Scientific research assistant Cognitive Neuropsychology (24478)

Tilburg University | Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

is looking for a

Scientific research assistant

Contract size: 0.6 fte (24 hours per week)

Full-time gross monthly salary: max € 3.369 ,-

Desired starting date: November 1, 2026

Are you eager to dive into cutting-edge neuromodulation and real-world symptom monitoring?

As a research assistant in our team, you will be running TMS sessions, working with intensive longitudinal data from daily life, and contributing to a new, state-informed approach to brain stimulation. This position offers the unique opportunity to work at the intersection of neuroscience, data science, and clinical research, with room for creativity, technical exploration, and meaningful impact. Here you'll have the chance to help deliver an iTBS protocol targeting the left prefrontal cortex, to model how cognitive fatigue fluctuates from moment to moment, and to explore who responds to stimulation and when. Curious minds are very welcome.

Context

In this project, members of the Cognitive Neuropsychology Department at Tilburg University aim to bridge real-time symptom monitoring in daily life with a pilot neuromodulation design, to better understand when and for whom stimulation may be most effective. By identifying dynamic fatigue profiles in students with elevated fatigue and relating them to short-term response to iTBS, the project lays the groundwork for more personalized, state-informed brain stimulation in clinical populations experiencing "mental fog".

Your position

As a Research Assistant, you will support an ongoing pilot project that combines ecological momentary assessment (EMA) with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), with the broader goal of understanding cognitive fatigue as a dynamic process. Your work will involve a short literature study, hands‑on involvement in data collection (EMA via a smartphone app and iTBS sessions in the lab), and initial support of the data analysis. Over time, you'll help document the workflows that link daily‑life symptom dynamics to short‑term response to stimulation.

You’ll mainly focus on the data‑collection (recruitment, running TMS sessions, monitoring EMA compliance) and later on explore preliminary analyses (processing intensive longitudinal data).

You’ll be actively involved in:

• Recruiting and scheduling participants and running EMA and iTBS sessions
• Following predefined TMS procedures (resting motor threshold, Beam F3 localization, delivering the iTBS protocol) under supervision
• Monitoring and managing the EMA data collection and participant compliance
• Contributing to the processing and analysis of intensive longitudinal (EMA) and stimulation data
• Summarizing results and documenting workflows, and collaborating with the research team on interim findings and next steps

This way, you’ll have an influence on the direction of the project and the opportunity to apply and further refine valuable skills at the intersection of neuromodulation, data science, and clinical research.

What your typical week might look like:

You’ll split your time between the lab and independent work, i.e. running participant sessions (TMS and EMA onboarding), meeting with supervisors to discuss progress and troubleshoot technical or practical challenges, and documenting your workflow and results. Some weeks may be focused on data collection and participant contact, others on managing and interpreting the EMA and stimulation data, or preparing summary reports.

Your profile

You are a motivated recent graduate, with a strong analytical mindset and an interest in neuromodulation, symptom dynamics, and technological innovation in clinical care.

We are looking for someone who meets the following criteria:

• You recently completed a bachelor’s or master's degree in (neuro-)psychology, social or biomedical sciences, (bio-)engineering, or a related field.
• You have demonstrable affinity with neuroscience and/or human research (e.g. through coursework, your thesis, internship, or previous research projects).
• You are comfortable working with statistical data analysis software or very motivated to learn new tools (e.g. R, STATA, or alternative coding).
• Scientific and/or practical experience with neuroscientific methods such as neuromodulation (TMS) and/or intensive longitudinal/EMA data is not required but is an asset.
• You are eager to take initiative, enjoy solving methodological and practical challenges.
• You collaborate well but can also work independently when running sessions or exploring analyses.
• You are reliable and comfortable in participant-facing tasks, and you handle sensitive data with care.
• You have sufficient proficiency in English to read scientific literature, communicate in a research context, and document your work clearly; proficiency in Dutch is an asset for participant contact.
• Organizing ability: you can coordinate and keep track of a multimodal data collection (participant scheduling, TMS sessions, and continuous EMA sampling running in parallel), managing the practical logistics.
• Initiative: you take ownership of tasks, identify opportunities for improvement, and follow through independently.
• Accuracy: you pay attention to detail and ensure the quality and traceability of your work.
• Collaboration: you can communicate effectively within a research team and contribute constructively to shared goals.

Our offer

Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• Employment of 0.6 fte(24hours per week), depending om the duration of the contract.
• A salary of € 3.369 gross per month for full-time employment, (UFO profile research assistant, salary scale 7 step 2). Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
• This is a vacancy for a position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 1 CLA DU. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 12 months. Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
• Hybrid working with home working allowance (€2 p/day) and internet allowance (€25 p/month). Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
• Options model for additional leave, pension, a bicycle or personal training.
• Pension through ABP.
• Ample training offer: personal development, leadership, education, research or language courses.
• Inclusive work culture: everyone welcome, equal opportunities.
• A green, inviting campus that’s easily accessible by public transport.

Want to know more?

Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Charlotte Sleurs at 0032476389401 or [e-mail] .

Letter selection is scheduled on 28/09/26; you will receive notification from us shortly thereafter. The first selection interviews will take place on Sep 30th and the second on Oct 6th.

The selection committee consists of:

• Dagmar Timmers, PhD, Dept. Cognitive Neuropsychology

You will ideally start working for Tilburg University on 01/11/2026.