The department Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University is looking for a

PhD Position in Cognitive Rehabilitation for People with Multiple Sclerosis -
Are you passionate about neuroscience, psychology, and making a tangible difference in the lives of people with multiple sclerosis (MS)? The Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology is offering an exciting opportunity for a PhD candidate to join a groundbreaking project funded by the Dutch Nationaal MS Fonds: “Prepare the Mind - Can coaching in goal-directed behaviour increase the success of cognitive rehabilitation in people with MS?”

Why This Project?
Cognitive impairment is one of the most challenging and impactful symptoms for people with MS, and while cognitive rehabilitation has shown promise, the effectiveness varies widely. Recent data reveals a fascinating connection between personality traits—specifically, conscientiousness—and improved cognitive outcomes. Our innovative research aims to explore whether conscientiousness training before cognitive rehabilitation can enhance these effects, leading to better overall well-being for people with MS. This is your chance to contribute to research that could revolutionize how we approach cognitive rehabilitation in MS.

What You Will Do
As a PhD candidate, you will be at the forefront of this pioneering multicenter longitudinal study, working across the Netherlands, the United States, and Switzerland. You will be responsible for:

• Setting up and conducting research at international sites.
• Collecting and analysing behavioural, neuropsychological, and (functional) MRI data.
• Publishing findings in top scientific journals and presenting at national and international conferences.
• Collaborating with world-renowned experts in MS research.
• Developing your skills through specialized courses in scientific writing, research integrity, and advanced topics related to your thesis.

What We Are Looking For
We’re seeking a highly motivated candidate with:

• A (Research) Master’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, medical sciences, or a related field.
• A strong interest in the topic, demonstrated through your thesis, internship, or research experience.
• Willingness to spend time abroad in the United States and/or Switzerland to collaborate with leading experts.
• Experience or interest in working with patient populations, neuropsychological testing, and/or brain imaging.
• Strong methodological, statistical, and analytical skills, including programming in R, MATLAB, or similar tools.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Dutch (German is a plus).
• A passion for teamwork, organization, and contributing to a global research community.

Embedding of the project and work environment
This PhD position is uniquely embedded in a multidisciplinary and international environment, offering you the chance to work alongside top researchers from Leiden, the University at Buffalo, and beyond. Supervised by Prof. Hanneke Hulst, Dr. Priska Zuber, and Prof. Ralph Benedict, you’ll have access to an unparalleled network of experts and cutting-edge resources.

The prime location of this position will be at Leiden, at the Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences conducts high-quality research and offers a broad and disciplinary educational programme, focused on increasing our understanding of current developments in society. The faculty consists of five institutes: Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Cultural Anthropology and Developmental Sociology, Education and Child Studies, Political Science and Psychology. The faculty has approximately 7,000 students and 1,000 staff members. At the Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, fundamental research on psychological factors of health and disease and developing, evaluating and implementing innovative diagnostic tools and treatment approaches stands in the centre of all research activities.

For more information, please visit the website https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/social-behavioural-sciences.

Diversity and inclusion are cherished as core values at Leiden University. At the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences too we strive to create a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment, in which everyone – no matter who they are or what they do – can feel at home and develop their talents.

Terms and conditions
The intended starting date is 1st November 2024. We offer a 0.8 – 1.0 FTE position for 1 year, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment. Salary range from €2,770 to €3,539 gross per month (pay scale P, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

Excellent benefits
Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions.

Application
Application deadline is 30th September 2024. Interviews with candidates will be held in the first two October weeks. If you would like to have more information, feel free to reach out to Dr Priska Zuber at p.zuber@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.

• To apply, please provide the following documents:
• A curriculum vitae (CV), max. 2 pages
• A motivation letter, max. 2 pages, explaining your educational background, interest and relevant existing experience and skills, why you are qualified for this position
• Two reference person including their names and contact details

Enquiries from agencies are not appreciated.