Job Description 
While the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) into daily life has enhanced our learning and interaction experiences, there's more beneath the surface. This research seeks to demystify the contrasting structural affordances of VR ("being there") and AR ("a virtual object being in my physical environment"), and to explore their distinct effects on information processing and knowledge acquisition. We anticipate that the findings of this project will provide insights into understanding when and how various XR modalities should be employed, as well as how immersive content can be optimized to fully harness the potential of each XR modality within the realms of education and persuasive communication. 

As a postdoc in the grant project titled “Towards acquiring greater knowledge and improving the mind through extended reality technologies: A comparative study examining the effects of extended reality technologies on information processing and knowledge acquisition,” funded by the Dutch Government, you will, among other tasks, participate in investigations determining whether content factors—such as virtuality (i.e., artificial vs. para-authentic) and emotional valence (negative vs. positive)—moderate the unique effects of XR technologies on learning outcomes. Beyond content factors, our research team is also keen to explore potential moderating roles of individual factors, including age, gender, personality (introvert vs. extravert), and cultural differences. You are expected to collaborate with our interdisciplinary team to conduct three experimental studies using a mixed-methods design (i.e., experiments combined with in-depth interviews) to delve into the aforementioned topics. Our research team plans to employ neuropsychological (EEG) and/or psychophysiological (ECG, EMG) measures as measurement tools.

 A PhD degree in a relevant field, e.g., communication science, human-computer interaction, cognitive science, neuropsychophysiology, or any other related field that you see fit;
⦁    Strong enthusiasm for the topics of study: immersive technologies, extended reality (XR), information processing, knowledge retention;
⦁    Experience with neuropsychological (EEG) and/or psychophysiological (ECG, EMG) data analysis is preferred;
⦁    Experience with in-depth interview is a plus, but not it is not a mandatory requirement;
⦁    Very good command of English in writing and speaking;
⦁    You are self-motivated, independent, and open-minded, and able to collaborate in an interdisciplinary team. 

Fixed-term contract: 2 years.

We offer a postdoc position for 0.8 – 1.0 FTE (32 - 40 hours per week) of full working hours, for the duration of 2 years. Working hours can be flexible for caring responsibilities. You will be given a temporary employment contract for the duration of 24 months. Tilburg University offers excellent employment conditions with attention to flexibility, work-life balance, (personal) development, and attractive fringe benefits. 

The salary amounts to a minimum of €3.226 and a maximum of €4.474 gross per month for full-time employment, based on UFO profile Researcher 4 and salary scale 10 of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system for salary scaling that is based on work experience. 

You are entitled to a vacation allowance of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% of your gross annual income. If you work 40 hours per week, you will receive 41 paid days of leave per year. 
Researchers from outside the Netherlands may qualify for a tax-free allowance of 30% of their taxable salary if they meet the relevant conditions. The university applies for this allowance on their behalf. All employees of the university are covered by the so-called General Pension Fund for Public Employers (Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP).  

We make clear agreements about career paths and offer numerous training courses, for example, in the areas of leadership skills, personal effectiveness, and career development. Dependent on your experiences, background, and interests we will offer suitable opportunities for developing transferable skills. 

Tilburg University values an open and inclusive culture. We embrace diversity and encourage the mutual integration of groups of employees and students. We focus on creating equal opportunities for all our employees and students so that everyone feels at home in our university community. 

Tilburg University has a lively campus in beautiful green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport. We are committed to a sustainable society and challenge you to make an active contribution.

Please visit working at Tilburg University for more information on our terms of employment. 

Research and education at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) has a unique focus on humans in the context of the globalizing digital society, on the development of artificial intelligence and interactive technologies, on their impact on communication, culture and society, and on moral and existential challenges that arise. The School of Humanities and Digital Sciences consists of four departments: Communication and Cognition, Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Culture Studies and Philosophy; several research institutes and a faculty office. Also the University College Tilburg is part of the School. Each year around 275 students commence a Bachelor or (Pre) Master Program. The School has approximately 2000 students and 250 employees.

Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences

Department of Communication and Cognition

Research and education at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) has a unique focus on humans in the context of the globalizing digital society, on the development of artificial intelligence and interactive technologies, on their impact on communication, culture and society, and on moral and existential challenges that arise. The School of Humanities and Digital Sciences consists of four departments: Communication and Cognition, Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Culture Studies and Philosophy; several research institutes and a faculty office. Also the University College Tilburg is part of the School. Each year around 275 students commence a Bachelor or (Pre) Master Program. The School has approximately 2000 students and 250 employees.

The successful candidate will be based at the Department of Communication and Cognition (DCC) at Tilburg University. Researchers at the DCC explore social and cognitive aspects of human interaction through a multidisciplinary approach, combining careful experimentation with survey methods, interviews, corpus analyses and computational modelling. Core research domains include (in alphabetical order) communication and technology, cross-cultural communication, health and climate communication, information visualization, language production, new media design, social media research, and non-verbal communication. The research group consists of about 80 researchers covering a broad range of topics relevant for cognition and communication, and this includes approximately 35 postdocs/PhD students. Relevant colloquium series and seminars are offered at Tilburg University.