PhD Position in Developmental Psychology; position, E13 TV-L scale

In order to fill a fixed-term position in part-time (29.87 hours/week = 75%) from 01.01.2027, pending funding approval, we are looking for 1

PhD Position in Developmental Psychology (75% position, E13 TV-L salary scale) – Starting January 1, 2027

The Chair of Developmental Psychology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum invites applications for a position as a research associate (m/f/x) within a research project on the development of episodic memory in early childhood. The project will be conducted in close collaboration at two locations:
Bochum and Dortmund. The successful candidate will contribute to the planning, execution, analysis, and publication of a longitudinal study involving children aged 3 to 5 years at the research site in Bochum. The project is embedded in a Collaborative Research Centre (CRC). The CRC “Episodic Memory” is an interdisciplinary consortium consisting of researchers from psychology, computational neuroscience, philosophy and neuroscience.

The basis for our research is the Scenario Construction Framework which conceptualizes scenarios as mental simulations of past episodes, constructed from episodic memory traces and semantic information. As a member of this team, you will be trained in interdisciplinary research and have access to a broad spectrum of initiatives to support you in your academic journey. The CRC will be housed at the new research building THINK in Bochum, which is not only equipped with cutting edge technology, but also houses a childcare area (which includes, e.g., an outside play area, bedroom), parent child offices, common rooms to foster networking, etc.

The position offers the opportunity for scientific qualification through a cumulative PhD. Employment is subject to final approval and funding by the third-party funding provider.

Scope: part-time

Duration: fixed-term, until 31.12.2030 (end of project)

Start: from 01.01.2027, pending funding approval

Apply by:

• Design, implementation, analysis, and publication of studies on the development of episodic memory in early childhood
• (Co-)supervision of student assistants and research students
• Proactive interdisciplinary collaboration and exchange within and beyond the CRC throughout the research process
• Presentation of study results at internal and external events and scientific conferences
• Active participation in CRC events
• Regular contribution to public relations and science communication

• A Master’s degree in Psychology or a closely related field
• A strong interest in developmental psychology research on memory and enthusiasm for scientific work
• A highly motivated team player who enjoys collaborating with researchers from various disciplines, particularly in the areas of modeling, philosophy, and neuroscience
• Proactive problem-solver in daily work
• Enjoyment of interacting with parents and children in a research context
• Fluent proficiency in German and English (written and spoken)
• Excellent methodological, programming, and statistical skills

• Practical experience working with infants and young children in a research context
• Prior experience in interdisciplinary research settings