Postdoctoral researcher Brain Influences of Phthalates and Bisphenols in Adolescents

The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/psychology at the Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam is offering an interesting postdoctoral position. The project is entitled: “Brain Influences of Phthalates and Bisphenols in Adolescents”.

As postdoctoral researcher you would be required to:

• Conduct analyses of the data (environmental chemicals, cognition and behavior, and neuroimaging data) and to publish findings in international scientific journals.
• Co-supervise a PhD student.
• Present work at internal and external meetings.
• To publish findings in international scientific journals.
• To adhere to open science practices (e.g. preregistrations, sharing code and preprints).

Substantial literature has investigated the negative impact of prenatal exposures to phthalates and bisphenols on developmental programming of cognition and behavior. Yet few studies have examined exposures beyond early childhood. Further, the rigor of earlier studies is limited due to the lack of focus on mechanisms and failure to apply a life course approach.This project is embedded within the Generation R Study, a multidisciplinary, innovative, and outstanding research study, which prospectively follows approximately 8,000 children from the general population from before birth into adolescence.

The main aims of this project are to determine the impact of prenatal, childhood, and early adolescent phthalate and bisphenol exposures on executive function and behavior in adolescents and to examine potential mechanisms underlying adverse influences of phthalates and bisphenols. To achieve these goals, this project leverages rich data in the Generation R Study, encompassing detailed assessment of cognition and behavior, neuroimaging, and chemical measurements through adolescence.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate, who would be able to work independently. You will work with a large team of colleagues analyzing child behavior and cognition, and (neuro)biological data. This requires you to show initiative, work well in a team and to have a strong analytical mindset and skills.

Requirements:

• PhD degree in medicine, biomedical sciences, epidemiology, computational psychology, neurosciences or a related discipline.
• Affinity with scientific questions around brain development, mental health and cognition, and particularly biological mechanisms.
• Experience in analyzing large datasets with repeated assessments.
• Above average statistical skills, preferably R.
• Excellent writing and presenting skills.
• Fluent proficiency in spoken and written English.

As PhD candidate you will be employed at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, which focuses on patient care, teaching and research activities to improve child and adolescent mental health. A key aim of the department is to study the frequency, determinants and developmental course of child psychiatric disorders, using epidemiological methods in the general population, in populations at risk, and in clinical samples. Large epidemiological studies are a primary focus and strength of the department. The PhD-training will focus on theoretical, epidemiological and clinical courses.

You will work closely with a large team of colleagues within the Generation R Study, the Departments of Children and Adolescent Psychiatry and NYU Environmental Pediatrics. The supervisory team consists of a local supervisor in Rotterdam, and a supervisor at NYU and comes together via online meetings on a biweekly basis. The local supervisor is available for daily questions.

For this position, you will be working as a research trainee within the KJPP representation in the Generation R Study, within the behavioral group. The behavioral group consists of other (young) researchers such as PhD candidates, post-docs, university (assistant) professors, and professors. The atmosphere is friendly, and everyone can easily approach each other for help and a chat by the coffee machine. We regularly come together for socializing, and we often have lunch together. There are frequent department-wide (social) gatherings where you also get to know your non-research colleagues. Team members of the behavioral group enjoy coming to work because of the innovative challenges that research offers them, but also because of the pleasant (international) collaborations and the strong sense of teamwork.

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. ir. Martijn Starmans via m.starmans@erasmusmc.nl.

If you are excited by the thought of this position and would like to apply, please do so by using the application form on our website.

No agencies please.