Assistant Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience

Your function

We are looking for a candidate who is developing a theory-driven experimental research programme that advances our understanding of the (neural) mechanisms underlying human cognition and complements the main research interests of the Cognitive Psychology section of the department. We are particularly interested in candidates with strong expertise in cognitive neuroscience methods, including EEG, eye tracking, and computational approaches to understanding brain and cognitive functioning.

The successful candidate will thrive in a collaborative academic environment and demonstrate a strong commitment to high-quality, research-informed teaching. This position is open to all candidates, but we particularly encourage women to apply. As an Assistant Professor, you will contribute to the section’s research, teaching, supervision, and administrative activities. In cases of clear seniority in research and/or education, combined with substantial leadership experience (e.g., having obtained major funding, having fulfilled management roles), appointment as (or later promotion to) Associate Professor may be considered.

Your duties

• Establishing and leading a research group in cognitive neuroscience at the Vrije Universiteit.

• Developing an innovative and internationally visible research programme that complements and strengthens the existing expertise of the Cognitive Psychology section of the department.

• Conducting high-quality research and publishing your findings in leading international journals.

• Securing external research funding through national and international grant applications.

• Teaching and coordinating courses in one or more of the major Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes to which the section contributes.

• Supervising Bachelor’s and Master’s students and, where applicable, PhD candidates and junior researchers.

• Contributing to the development and innovation of the section’s teaching programmes.

• Collaborating with colleagues within the Cognitive Psychology section and across sections and other faculty departments.

• Contributing actively to the organisation, academic community, and strategic development of the section and department.

• Taking on an appropriate share of administrative and organisational responsibilities.

• You have a doctoral degree (PhD) in cognitive neuroscience, AI, or a related discipline;

• A methodological focus on EEG and/or eye tracking is a plus, but experience with computational methods (e.g., LLMs) and/or fMRI is also valued;

• You are enthusiastic about research, as shown in high-quality research output;

• You have a demonstrated ability, or the potential, to acquire external funding for your research. You are expected to build up and coordinate a research team and supervise PhD candidates;

• You are able to contribute to our teaching efforts in the area of cognitive neuroscience/psychology/AI, both at the bachelor and at the research master level;

• You have a university teaching qualification (BKO) or the willingness to complete the BKO training during your appointment;

• You are a team player, both at the level of the section and at the level of the faculty. This means that you are willing to contribute to the goals of the section and the faculty, for example, as a member of research and teaching committees, and to set up collaborative research projects;

• You are committed to the principles of open science;

• You can communicate fluently in English and preferably also Dutch. If the latter is not the case, you are willing to learn Dutch. Courses are currently taught in English.

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer:

• a salary of minimum € 4.925,00 (Scale 11) and maximum € 7.573,00 (Scale 12) gross per month, on a full-time basis. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.

• a position for at least 0.8 fte. Your employment contract will initially last 18 months. This can be converted into a permanent contract depending on performance in light of criteria formulated at the start of the…