Do your research interests lie at the intersection of psychology, economics, marketing and neuroscience? And are you interested in studying the brain mechanisms that underlie judgement and decision-making?

The Erasmus Centre for Neuroeconomics at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is offering a

Postdoc position in decision neuroscience

Particular interests of our group are the neural underpinnings of persuasive messaging, social influences on choice, dishonesty, emotion regulation and self-control, and the role of neurotransmitters and hormones in such decisions.

For a current project, we are especially looking for applicants who:

• have experience with innovative fMRI methods, most notably multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA), or multivariate approaches to EEG data analyses

• are interested in applying these techniques to study (real-world) choice behaviour.

We seek to understand and predict choice from neural activity in response to matters such as money, products and persuasive messages. In particular, we focus on linking neural measures obtained from individuals to real market-level choice data.

We use fMRI and EEG, in particular applying innovative techniques such as multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) and representational similarity analysis (RSA), as well as neural reliability (inter-subject correlations in neural activity). Experience with and interest in applying these techniques is required.

The Postdoc will be a member of the Erasmus Centre for Neuroeconomics, which is hosted by the department of marketing management of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM). This position will be jointly supervised by Prof. Ale Smidts, Dr Maarten Boksem and Dr Alex Genevsky.

The Erasmus Centre for Neuroeconomics conducts cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in decision neuroscience, and hosts the Erasmus Behavioural Lab which provides an excellent infrastructure for conducting behavioural, EEG/ERP, eye-tracking, facial coding and hormone-administration experiments. In addition, the Centre has access to multiple MRI scanners located at the Erasmus Medical Centre. RSM’s department of marketing management is home of leading researchers in consumer behaviour and judgment and decision-making, and experts in marketing modelling, machine learning, and econometrics.

Successful candidates must have a relevant PhD degree, with a background in cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology or biological psychology, with a definite interest in applying their knowledge to the field of decision-making. Strong coding skills (Matlab, Python or R) is a definitive requirement.

Candidates with a background in statistics or computer science, with a definitive interest in decision-making and neuroscience are also strongly invited to apply.

The conditions of employment correspond with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO NU). We offer a 1,0 FTE contract, initially for one year. A part-time contract (at least 0,6 FTE) is also possible.

Salary is subject to training and experience and may vary from a minimum of € 3,637 up to a maximum of € 4,978 gross per month (scale 11 CAO NU), based on a full-time contract of 38 hours.

Favourable tax agreements may apply to international applicants.

Erasmus University Rotterdam has attractive employment conditions, which include a holiday allowance of 8 per cent, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3 per cent, and a generous number of vacation days.