We make predictably bad decisions. We eat that extra slice of cake, buy that expensive phone, and fail to save our planet. We aim to understand how our motivations sway our actions, in often seemingly irrational ways. At the centre of this conundrum lies a deep brain structure known as the striatum. It is proposed to drive reinforcement learning, invigorate or inhibit action, and bias choice, by shaping cortical processes. These theories are backed by decades of animal studies, yet have remained untested in humans. We lacked the proper interventional tools until now. 
In this project, we will use transcranial ultrasonic stimulation to non-invasively modulate the ‘motivational’ ventral striatum and the ‘action’ dorsal striatum. Combined with novel behavioural paradigms and computational modelling, we will dissect the role of the striatum in mediating motivational influencing of behaviour.

In a series of experiments, you will develop a set of approaches for transcranial ultrasound stimulation of the striatum. You will then combine these interventions with behavioural tasks to disentangle the function of the dorsal versus ventral striatum in rational/irrational decision-making.

This project builds on earlier work using similar tasks and techniques. A few of those can be found below.

• Swart et al., 2018, PLoSBiol. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2005979
• van Nuland et al. 2020 Brain. https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/143/11/3422/5956227
• Folloni, Verhagen, et al., 2019, Neuron. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2019.01.019

In addition to research, this position includes a 10% teaching responsibility, which may include supervision of Bachelor's and Master's students' thesis projects as well as lecturing and supervision of student work groups.

Required: 

• MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology, Biology, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field.
• Keen interest in decision-making and neuromodulation.
• Professional skills to contribute to team work and culture.
• Independent problem-solving abilities.
• Pioneering spirit to enjoy a project that is not ‘off-the-shelf’.
• Technical proficiency and experience with scientific coding

Desirable:

• Experience in computational modelling and/or neuromodulation.
• Affinity with technical lab work.
• Good knowledge of statistics and quantitative methods.

Fixed-term contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract).

• Employment: 1.0 FTE.
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,395 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,061 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• In addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Duration of the contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract).
• The intended start date is 1 September 2021.
• You will be part of the Donders Graduate School for Cognitive Neuroscience.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment  and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
• Have a look at our excellent employment conditions. They include a good work-life balance (among other things because of the excellent leave arrangements), opportunities for development and a great pension scheme.

Radboud University

We want to get the best out of science, others and ourselves. Why? Because this is what the world around us desperately needs. Leading research and education make an indispensable contribution to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This is what unites the more than 22,000 students and 5,000 employees at Radboud University. And this requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play!

Faculty of Social Sciences

You will join the Learning & Decision-making Lab, headed by Dr Hanneke den Ouden. We aim to unravel the cognitive building blocks of flexible behaviour using cognitive neuroscience approaches that bridge psychology, biology and engineering. We combine neuroimaging (fMRI, EEG, MEG), psychopharmacology (of dopamine and serotonin) and neuromodulation techniques (TUS), supported by computational modelling of imaging and behavioural data. 
We will work closely with the Cognitive Neuromodulation lab, headed by Dr Lennart Verhagen. The CN lab is one of the pioneering labs for transcranial ultrasonic stimulation in humans, a groundbreaking tool for non-invasive deep brain stimulation.

The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour is a world-class interfaculty research centre, housing more than 700 researchers devoted to understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of the human mind. Research at the Donders Institute is focused around four themes: 1. Language and communication, 2. Perception, action and decision-making, 3. Development and lifelong plasticity, 4. Neural computating and neurotechnology. Excellent, state-of-the-art research facilities are available for the broad range of neuroscience research that is being conducted at the Donders Institute. The Donders Institute has been assessed by an international evaluation committee as 'excellent' and recognised as a ‘very stimulating environment for top researchers, as well as for young talent’. The Donders Institute fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary, supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute.