Research Assistant FLEX | Sensitivity, Neurodiversity and Supportive Workplaces

Are you interested in translating scientific research into practical tools that help create more inclusive and supportive workplaces? Do you enjoy communicating science, connecting people and organising activities that make a difference? We are looking for an enthusiastic and well-organised Research Assistant to join an interdisciplinary project on sensitivity, neurodiversity and inclusive leadership.

The position is part of the Seen and Supported project, funded by the Dr. Anna Terruwe Fund. The project aims to better understand how workplaces can support highly sensitive and neurodivergent employees, and to translate scientific insights and stakeholder experiences into practical recommendations for employees, managers and organisations.

You will work at the intersection of scientific research, science communication and stakeholder engagement. A particular focus will be on sensory processing sensitivity (also known as the highly sensitive person), sensory overload at work, and how organisations and leaders can create supportive and affirming working environments.

You will be jointly supervised by Prof. Corina Greven
, Professor of Environmental Sensitivity at Radboudumc, and Prof. Léon de Bruin
, Professor of Philosophy of Mind and Language at Radboud University. You will be embedded in both research groups, bringing together complementary expertise in sensitivity, mental health, neurodiversity and organisational environments. Your employment contract will be with the Department of Medical Neuroscience at Radboudumc
. The contract duration is 7 months, 21 hours/week, starting in January 2027.

This position offers an opportunity to contribute to a socially relevant project with tangible outcomes. You will collaborate with researchers, clinicians, HR professionals and people with lived experience, primarily within Radboud University and Radboudumc. You will help turn scientific knowledge into accessible resources, contribute to the development of a supportive leadership training programme and help build a network of stakeholders around sensitivity and neurodiversity.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

• Translate research into practical guidance: Summarise scientific findings on high sensitivity, sensory overload and supportive workplaces, and develop practical tips, tools and recommendations for employees, managers and HR professionals.
• Engage with stakeholders and build networks: Organise conversations with researchers, clinicians, HR professionals and people with lived experience to identify needs, good practices and research priorities, while strengthening collaborations within Radboud University and Radboudumc.
• Contribute to leadership training: Help develop accessible educational materials and practical tools to support neurodivergent and highly sensitive employees in the workplace.
• Communicate scientific findings: Create engaging, accessible content, including social media posts, to raise awareness of sensitivity, neurodiversity and supportive workplaces.
• Support project activities and dissemination: Coordinate meetings, document stakeholder input and help organise a public symposium to share findings and strengthen collaborations.

You will be based at the Department of Medical Neuroscience at Radboudumc in Nijmegen, while working closely with colleagues at Radboud University. The department brings together researchers from different disciplines to understand the brain, behaviour and mental health, with a strong emphasis on research that contributes to health and well-being.

You will be embedded in two complementary research groups:
Prof. Corina Greven's research group on Environmental Sensitivity at Radboudumc, focusing on sensitivity, and Prof. Léon de Bruin's research group at Radboud University, focusing on philosophy and neurodiversity. You will work alongside researchers, PhD candidates and other colleagues, and collaborate with clinicians, HR professionals and stakeholder networks across both institutions.

We offer an interdisciplinary, collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment, where you will have room to work independently while receiving guidance and support from both supervisors. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills in science communication, stakeholder engagement and project coordination, while contributing to research with direct relevance for people's everyday working lives.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, well-organised and communicative colleague who…