PhD fellowship in Cognitive Neuroscience at Department of Psychology

We are offering a PhD fellowship in Cognitive Neuroscience commencing 1st November 2022 or as soon as possible hereafter.

Our group and research
You will be part of the interdisciplinary research group Cognition, Intention and Action (CoInAct) at the Department of Psychology. The overall purpose of the CoInAct is to understand the interplay between movement, actions and cognition. We study basic action neuroscience and higher order cognitive functions in humans. CoInAct brings together researchers from different disciplines – including philosophy, psychology and neuroscience – with a common interest in understanding human cognition and action. In general, we aim to improve understanding of the psychological, philosophical and neural foundations of human cognition, action, and movement, and to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists and students interested in these research areas.

Project description
The project that the PhD fellow will work on is entitled “Learning to Move from Virtual Reality – Fueled with Neuroscience Powered by Data” and funded by a Data+ grant from University of Copenhagen. The project is an interdisciplinary project done in collaboration with researchers at the Human Centered Computing (HCC) section at Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen. In the project we will investigate how neuroscientific measurements done in human, while they perform tasks in virtual reality can be used to modify the sensory feedback provided in virtual reality to optimize and improve skill learning in VR.

The main experimental technique that is going to be employed are recordings of electroencephalography (EEG) from freely moving humans in combination with behavioural measurements. In addition, we employ transcranial magnetic stimulation to interfere with skill learning in VR. The PhD fellow will work in parallel with another PhD fellow from the HCC group employed at Department of Computer Science and affiliated with the AI Pioneer Center at University of Copenhagen.

Principal supervisor isAssociate Professor, Mark Schram Christensen,[email protected] ,Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen. Primary Co-supervisor is associate Professor Joanna Bergstrøm, [email protected] , Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen,

Start:                1st November 2022

Duration:         3 years as a PhD student

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at University of Copenhagen are:

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points 
• Participate in active research environments including a stay at another research team
• Obtain experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teach and disseminate your knowledge
• Write a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Duties and Responsibilities
Further information about the PhD study programme is available on the website of Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences:  

https://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/english/

https://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/

Under "Legal basis" on the website you will find information about the rules and guidelines for the PhD programme and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD programme at the Universities. 

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a 3 year bachelor degree (equivalent to 180 ECTS) and a 2 year master’s degree (equivalent to 120 ECTS) related to the subject area of the project e.g. Human Neuroscience, Neuroimaging, Experimental Psychology, Exercise Physiology, Human Physiology, Cognitive Science, Biomedical Engineering or similar with a curiosity driven interest in understanding the relationship between skill learning of movement and electrophysiological measurements in humans.

Other important criteria are:

• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Previous publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in understanding the link between human movement neuroscience, cognitive functions, skill learning, virtual reality and data science.
• English Language skills
• Interest in interdisciplinary research work coupling knowledge from social, health, natural and humanities science
• Strong data analysis skills with the ability to do programming independently

Place of employment
The place of employment is at Department of Psychology Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international interdisciplinary research environment. Our research facilities include newly established laboratories with equipment for doing human electrophysiological (EEG, EMG) recordings including non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS), behavioral measurements, and virtual reality.

Terms of employment
The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years.

It is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary begins around 26.755 DKK /approx. 3.567 EUR (April 2018-level) plus pension.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of Social Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website https://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/english/ with specific information about the program in Psychology https://psychology.ku.dk/phd_programme/ .

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).

2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.

3. Project proposal (max. two pages), where the focus is on describing possible experiments that investigates the link between electrophysiological data and sensory feedback in virtual reality and how that can be used to improve skill learning.

4. Master of Science diploma and transcript of records. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor will do.

5. Publication list (if possible).

Application deadline:  21st August 2022, 23.59 pm CEST

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor.

The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.

Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace
The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. For more on the diverse working place environment at the University and the University’s participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, see https://employment.ku.dk/working-at-ucph/eu-charter-for-researchers/

International applicant?
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: https://ism.ku.dk/

Contact information
Information about the recruitment process is available from Dorthea Andersen,HR, e-mail: [email protected] , please refer to ID number: 211-1140/22-2H.

Additional information about the position can be obtained from Associate Professor Mark Schram Christensen, e-mail: [email protected]

Interviews are expected to be held in week 38.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.