Junior Researcher

Background
Exposure-based treatments are effective in reducing anxiety symptoms in anxiety disorders. However, the relapse rate after successful treatment remains high. In this project, we aim to test whether a novel approach can effectively prevent relapse in a fear conditioning model.

Research method
In a human fear conditioning learning model, this project examines whether a modified extinction learning protocol can effectively prevent the return of fear. Fear will be indexed behaviorally (e.g., avoidance responses), cognitively (e.g., threat expectancy ratings), and physiologically (e.g., skin conductance responses).

Job description
As a junior researcher, your tasks will include:

• Recruiting and coordinating participants from the Erasmus University Rotterdam using university channels and social media.
• Collecting data on fear responses (e.g., threat expectancy ratings, skin conductance responses) in a human fear conditioning model.
• Collaborating with the research team and Msc students on the project logistics
• Preprocessing and analyzing the collected data.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and talented candidate with

• A master’s degree in a relevant field, including psychology, health sciences, or neuroscience.
• Keen interest in experimental psychopathology and the understanding of exposure-based treatments for anxiety disorders.
• Strong affinity with associative learning and computational modelling is desirable. Prior experience with fear conditioning or psychophysiology is advantageous but not essential – training will be provided.
• Substantial knowledge of statistical methods and analytical skills
• Excellent proficiency and communication skills in English.
• Work collaboratively in a dynamic team to meet project timelines.

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The start date of this position is May 2025 and you will be based at Campus Woudestein, in Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB). This position is for 0.7fte. The salary is € 3.378 gross per month Scale 10.0 on a fulltime basis (38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU. The contract is offered for a period of 1 year.

Everything else we offer you, you can find below!

• Everything you need for a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre!
• Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME or QuEUR.
• Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library.
• Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.
• Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners, and our campus features a daycare (daycare not paid for by EUR).
• Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the 30%-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4.100 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Faculty / Institute / Central service
The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences is home to a vast diversity of scientific disciplines: public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College, IHS, and two research institutes RISBO and DRIFT are linked to the faculty. This also reflects in the content of the (international) bachelor's and master's programs and in research. Our activities are always focused on people and society. At the ESSB fundamental, internationally oriented research is of paramount importance. In addition, social research for professionals, policy makers, and the society is part of our research activities. ESSB offers a stimulating research environment where major national and international research grants are received. Appealing guest researchers and ambitious PhD candidates come along to conduct their research. Our education is small-scale and works with innovative forms of education such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Both the Dutch and English programs are highly ranked by students and alumni. ESSB is home to over 4000 students and more than 400 staff-members. The different disciplines are supported by the Faculty Office (for more information, please visit www.eur.nl/essb).

Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies (DPECS)

Our department consists of 7 teams covering the disciplines of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Pedagogical Sciences; three closely related disciplines with each their own profile. The different psychological specialization areas of DPECS focus on understanding cognitive, physical, and social functioning and well-being in the context of mental health, education, and work. The educational sciences focus on issues regarding effectiveness and inclusion in primary, secondary and tertiary education. The pedagogical sciences focus on issues related to everyday as well as problematic development and upbringing within families, at school and in youth care. The disciplinary perspectives of DPECS complement each other and share the mission to generate societal impact with high-quality scientifical research on timely societal issues, and with the use of innovative methods and techniques and open science. The bachelor and master programs of DPECS build on this mission and educate students to become scientifically trained professionals for the society of the future.

More information about the research at DPECS can be found here: https://www.eur.nl/en/essb/information/researchers/lab-society

More information about the education programs offered at DPECS can be found here: https://www.eur.nl/en/essb/education

Our department also has access to an excellent laboratory for research and education purposes. The Erasmus Behavioural Lab offers state-of-the art facilities, including video observation, EEG, eye-tracking, virtual reality, experience sampling, and biofeedback: https://www.eur.nl/en/essb/information/researchers/erasmus-behavioural-lab

Department
The Clinical Psychology team focuses on five interconnected research themes: Experimental Psychopathology of Emotional Disorders and Affective Neuroscience, Substance Use and Addiction Science, Developmental Psychopathology, Forensic and Legal Psychology, and Health Psychology and Behavioral Change. All five themes are characterized by a 'From Lab to Society' research vision, which aims at a strong mutual connection between fundamental (experimental) research, clinical practice and health promotion. In addition, our team provides education within the Dutch and international bachelor program Psychology, and the master specializations Clinical Psychology, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Forensic & Legal Psychology, and Health Psychology. The mission of our scientific research and education is to promote, protect and restore mental health based on state-of-the-art fundamental and applied research on mechanisms, treatments and prevention.

Please submit your application, consisting of a motivation letter and CV, before the vacancy closing date.

You can find more information about the EUR on our website www.eur.nl. For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Alex Wong via h.k.wong@essb.eur.nl for more information.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Persons of all gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, religions, ethnicities, ages, neurodiversities, functional impairments, citizenships, or any other aspect are welcome to apply and join the EUR community.