The project is embedded within the NWA-funded BioClock consortium and will be executed in close collaboration with Leiden Universitair Behandeling en Expertise Centrum (LUBEC) and the LUMC. The Postdoctoral position focuses on:

1. The understanding of the brain mechanisms that make light therapy a successful antidepressant treatment - The candidate will be in charge of conducting two neuroimaging (fMRI) studies to examine response to light in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other brain areas such as the limbic system of depressed patients, before and after light therapy administration.
2. The restoration of the biological clock of patients with depression – In a multicenter randomized controlled trial, we aim to test a chronotherapeutic treatment that combines light therapy with lifestyle interventions to tune the biological clock, improve well-being and facilitate recovery in depressed patients. Data collection will include subjective and objective assessments of sleep, ecological momentary assessments and psycho-physiology. These data will be used to develop predictors of response to chronotherapy.

The postdoc will be working in close collaboration with Dr. Niki Antypa (LU), Prof. Willem van der Does (LU, LUBEC) and Joke Meijer (LUMC), as well as the mental health clinic in Eindhoven GGZ-E and researchers in the Eindhoven University of Technology.

This Postdoctoral position is one of in total 25 positions at the core of the N.W.O.-funded BioClock research project, which is part of the Dutch Research Agenda.

BioClock is a unique consortium in which academic institutes, societal partners, and industry join forces to address a broad spectrum of fundamental and applied research questions on the circadian clock in modern society. As a Postdoc in the BioClock consortium, the candidate will get the opportunity to actively participate in this multidisciplinary team effort. For further information please visit the website.

• PhD degree in clinical psychology or closely related field (e.g. clinical neuroscience);
• Strong interest in depression and/or biological clock/chronotherapy research;
• Experience with neuroimaging data collection, analysis, and scientific writing;
• Excellent research skills, eye for detail;
• Excellent writing skills in English;
• Advanced statistical skills;
• Strong communication skills, excited to work in a team;
• Willingness to be actively involved in the BioClock consortium;
• Independent, ‘making things work’ mentality.

Desirable:

• Hands-on experience with conducting a randomized controlled trial;
• Fluency in Dutch (at least up to B2-level).

We offer a four year position (one year plus a further three years after a positive evaluation) for 0.8 fte. There is a possibility to extend the position to 1.0 fte with additional teaching duties. Salary range from € 2,790.- to € 4,402.- gross per month on a full-time basis (pay scale 10, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). The starting date is expected in October/November 2021.

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. For more information, see the website.

Leiden University

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences conducts high-quality research and offers a broad and disciplinary educational programme, focused on increasing our understanding of current developments in society. The faculty consists of five institutes: Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Cultural Anthropology and Developmental Sociology, Education and Child Studies, Political Science and Psychology. The faculty has approximately 7,000 students and 850 staff members. For more information, please visit the website. 

Diversity and inclusion are cherished as core values at Leiden University. At the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences too we strive to create a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment, in which everyone – no matter who they are or what they do – can feel at home and develop their talents.