Are you interested in research on social cognition, prejudice, and computation/artificial intelligence? Dr David Amodio at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is looking for a researcher to contribute to his NWO-funded VICI project, How do prejudices become implicit? A social cognitive neuroscience account.

The postdoc will join Dr. Amodio’s dynamic research group at the UvA, working closely on projects with him and his team in Amsterdam, in collaboration with lab members in New York, and participating in weekly lab meetings.

What are you going to do?

You will examine the psychological and neural processes through which prejudice and stereotypes are formed, expressed, and propagated in both humans (e.g., through reinforcement learning) and machines (e.g., artificial intelligence) using a combination of behavioural, computational, neuroimaging, and machine learning approaches.

You will be part of the Department of Social Psychology at the University of Amsterdam, interacting with colleagues and participating in program activities (e.g., brownbag meetings, colloquia, workshops, and local conferences), with opportunities to connect with other departments and organizations at the University of Amsterdam (e.g., the Amsterdam Brain & Cognition Centre, the Citizens, Society and Artificial Intelligence group).

This position includes allowances for research expenses, including computer and recording materials, participant costs, experimental materials, and travel and subsistence costs towards project-specific travel, including conferences.

What do we require of you?

​You have or are about to finish a PhD in Psychology or related discipline, with a focus on social psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and/or computer science. You are interested in studying social cognition and prejudice using a combination of social psychological, cognitive, and computational approaches.

You have experience conducting research in psychology, designing and programming experiments (e.g., using Matlab, Python, or Javascript), recruiting participants and running experimental sessions, collection and analysis of data (e.g., R or SPSS), and the writing of manuscripts and/or grants.

You have experience with computational modeling and/or machine learning (expertise in cognitive neuroscience is helpful but not required). Your written and spoken English are excellent and you have a strong interest in pursuing a scientific career. You have strong research project management skills and the ability manage workload and resources to meet deadlines.

The position concerns a temporary appointment of 38 hours per week for a maximum term of two years. The initial appointment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended.

Your full-time gross monthly salary will range from €3,807 to €5,211 (salary scale 11), depending on your number of years of relevant experience. Your annual salary will be supplemented with 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

University of Amsterdam

To work at the University of Amsterdam (Uva) is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterized by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society. Here you can read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology is a part of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG), which is the largest educational and research institution in the social sciences in the Netherlands.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate for a project on Learning and Prejudice. This postdoc position is part of a multi-site project based in the Social Psychology programme group.