PhD Cognitive and learning mechanisms underlying pain-sleep cycle

Why do sleepless nights make pain worse – and why does pain keep us awake? In this PhD project, you will join an interdisciplinary team investigating cognitive and learning mechanisms that drive the common association between chronic pain and insomnia, generating insights with direct impact on clinical practice and patient wellbeing.

• Our goal: This interdisciplinary project aims to understand the temporal, causal, and mechanistic links between chronic pain and insomnia. By integrating experimental, longitudinal, and clinical research, we investigate how cognitive and learning processes maintain and amplify this cycle, ultimately informing improved treatments.
• Your colleagues: You will work within a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary team across the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) and the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), supervised by Dr. Dimitri Van Ryckeghem and Dr. Ree Meertens, alongside experts in clinical psychology, sleep research, CBT for insomnia, and large‑scale longitudinal data analysis. These research groups offer an international, productive, collaborative, and interactive environment.
  
  The candidate will join the Dutch‑Flemish Postgraduate School ‘Experimental Psychopathology’ ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).), which will provide additional training and facilitate networking and collaboration with other researchers in the field of experimental psychopathology.

This PhD position is strategically positioned at the intersection of mental health research and treatment innovation. Your work will directly contribute to advancing mechanistic understanding and improving interventions for two highly prevalent and comorbid health conditions.

• Design and execute innovative experimental lab studies on the role of cognitive and learning processes within the pain–sleep cycle.
• Implement and evaluate a digital insomnia intervention in chronic pain populations.
• Apply advanced statistical and computational modelling techniques to analyze complex nested and already existing longitudinal datasets.
• Collaborate with clinical partners and interdisciplinary researchers.
• Disseminate research findings via scientific publications and presentations at national and international conferences.
• Contribute to a culture of open science and methodological rigor.

We’re not looking for check boxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

• Education background: You have a (research) master’s degree in a relevant field, including psychology, health sciences, biomedical sciences, or neuroscience.
• Research mindset: You are skilled in experimental design and have a strong interest in cognitive, clinical, or health psychology.
• Strong programming and analytical skills: You have experience or affinity with experimental programming and advanced statistical methods and data analysis, ideally with longitudinal or experimental data (or a strong interest and willingness to acquire these skills).
• Clinical affinity: You have an interest in clinical populations and interventions, and are motivated to translate research insights into clinical relevance.
• Communication skills: Excellent proficiency and communication skills in English language, both verbally as well as in writing. Proficiency in Dutch is considered a strong advantage.
• Collaborative attitude: You enjoy working in interdisciplinary teams and engaging with both academic and clinical stakeholders.

At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

• A 12‑month contract (1.0 FTE) with the prospect of a 3‑year extension, based on mutual satisfaction.
• A gross monthly salary between €3 059 and €3 881 (based on full‑time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year‑end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full‑time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently…