We are seeking a highly qualified and motivated PhD student or postdoc for the project "Changing minds by reshaping memories", which is funded by an NWO Vidi project awarded to dr. V.A. van Ast. You'll conduct experimental research to investigate how novel therapeutic experiences can be optimally integrated with past maladaptive memories.

The project is embedded in the Amsterdam Emotional Memory lab , situated at the Clinical Psychology Department. The lab addresses fundamental questions about memory malleability, investigates mechanisms of change in the treatment of mental disorders, and contributes to treatment innovation.

What are you going to do?
Recalling the past brings up memories and emotions in the present. Upon retrieval however, memories can be changed - for better or for worse - either by integrating novel experiences with existing memories (integration), or by actively breaking down such connections (disintegration). However, why memory retrieval leads to integration in some instances and to disintegration at other times is poorly understood, and the consequences of these processes for evoked emotions, are unknown. This undermines the effectiveness of psychotherapies that rely upon retrieval-induced integration.

For this project, we seek a highly motivated and qualified PhD student or postdoc. Using tools such as fMRI and psychophysiology, you'll conduct translational research to gain insight in the conditions and neurobiological mechanisms of (dis)integration of real-life memories, and how this affects symptom changes in emotional memory disorders. To do so, you will further develop variations on paradigms that we have recently developed, suitable to measure central characteristics (e.g., psychophysiological responses, episodic detail, associative memory) of both lab-induced and autobiographical emotional memories. The collected data you'll analyze using fMRI, multilevel- and network modelling. Ultimately, you'll write at least three experimental papers (or a doctoral thesis on the basis of at least four experimental papers).

You will conduct your research under the main supervision of dr. Vanessa van Ast at the University of Amsterdam, as part of her NWO-funded Vidi project "Changing minds by reshaping memories". The project asks how integration of novel therapeutic experiences with past maladaptive memories can be promoted, while investigating neuronal, physiological, and psychological mechanisms of memory change. The project is also part of the group of the Amsterdam Emotional Memory lab that focusses on the mechanisms of (memory) change in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders. In the case of a PhD project, Prof. Merel Kindt will be your promotor in addition to dr. Vanessa van Ast.

The positions include 0.1 fte of teaching. Accordingly, subject to availability and qualifications, you will contribute to the teaching program of Clinical Psychology, by e.g., supervising thesis students.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Plan and perform neuroimaging experiments in an independent manner;
• Critically analyze and interpret results;
• Take a leading role in writing manuscripts;
• Present your results at (inter)national scientific meetings;
• Collaborate with international and local researchers;
• Assist in teaching undergraduates and/or Master's students;
• Supervise junior scientists (MSc/BSc students).

PhD: Conduct at least four experimental studies and complete a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years;

Postdoc: Conduct at least three experimental studies within the official appointment duration of three years;