Postdoc in Social Neuroscience

Are you interested in uncovering the mechanisms underlying social cognition and interaction, in the capital of Scandinavian “hygge”? We invite applications for an appointment as a postdoc in social neuroscience. The position is funded by the Villum Young Investigator grant titled “Bridging social neuroscience and social data science: uncovering interaction and brain mechanisms in social networks ”.

The position is available for a period of 3 years, from 1 February 2022, or according to mutual agreement.

You will primarily be involved in working within the social interaction and neuroscience group, with the aim of understanding how interpersonal social network properties influence real-time interaction and brain dynamics (measured using fMRI and/or dual EEG). 

You will be based within the Section for Cognitive Systems, which is a lively and research oriented group of scientists and support staff with a broad interest in information processing in humans and computers, and a particular focus on the signals they exchange, and the opportunities these signals offer for modelling and engineering of cognitive systems.

Responsibilities and qualifications
In collaboration with social neuroscientists (supervised by Assoc. Prof. Ivana Konvalinka), network scientists, and computational neuroimaging researchers (from the Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance), you will be responsible for the mapping and analysis of a social network, designing novel joint action paradigms, running and analyzing interactive experiments using fMRI and/or dual EEG, and disseminating the results at international conferences and by publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent) in e.g. cognitive science/neuroscience, psychology, physics, engineering, social data science.

The successful candidate should possess:

• a strong background in the design and analysis of behavioural/neuroimaging experiments, preferably using fMRI and/or EEG techniques
• programming skills (i.e. MATLAB, Python, R)
• excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills, which are required to work in an interdisciplinary environment
• a passion and dedication to solve hard problems in joint action and two-person neuroscience research
• previous experience with social network analysis is welcome, but not required

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

The university is located in the greater Copenhagen area, and consequently many staff and students live in Copenhagen. This is often named as the best city in the world to live, and for good reasons. It is world renowned for food, art, music, architecture, biking, the Scandinavian "hygge" and much more. In addition, we offer a generous travel budget for conferences, workshops, dissemination activities, and collaboration. 

Salary and terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

You can read more about career paths at DTU here .  

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Associate Prof. Ivana Konvalinka, [email protected] .

You can read more about DTU Compute at www.compute.dtu.dk/english .   

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark .  

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 17 December 2021 (Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)
• List of publications

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Compute
DTU Compute is a unique and internationally recognized academic department with 385 employees and 11 research sections spanning the science disciplines mathematics, statistics, computer science, cognitive science, and engineering. We conduct research, teaching and innovation of high international standard – producing new knowledge and technology-based solutions to societal challenges. We have a long-term involvement in applied and interdisciplinary research, big data and data science, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), smart and secure societies, smart manufacturing, and life science. At DTU Compute we believe in a diverse workplace with a flexible work-life balance.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 12,900 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.