Doktorand*in Klinische Psychologie mit Bildgebung, PhD in Clinical Neuroscience: imaging intrusive memories

The Clinical Psychology group at the University of Groningen invites applications for a PhD position (4 years).

This position is part of a joint project of prof. dr. Judith Daniels and dr. Ineke Wessel. Judith Daniels’s lab focuses on the phenomenon of dissociation in the context of mental disorders as well as the treatment of trauma-related disorders. Ineke Wessel’s (applied) research concentrates on how memory processes influence the origins and maintenance of trauma-related intrusive memories. The overall aim of the current project is to elucidate (neural) processes underlying the recovery from trauma-related mental disorders. Insights from this project will inform theory and interventions aimed at preventing revictimization of persons with a history of trauma exposure.

The PhD candidate will conduct empirical research using neuroimaging (fMRI) and experimental methods in Dutch healthy subjects and patient groups. The specific aims of the PhD project are to (1) investigate the neural correlates of intrusive memories and dissociation as well as predictive biomarkers of non-response to trauma-focused treatment versus recovery from PTSD as well as (2) changes in the quality of the trauma memory over the course of treatment.
The PhD candidate will conduct clinical diagnostic and memory interviews with Dutch patients with trauma-related disorders. Subsequently, the candidate will acquire longitudinal (pre-post treatment) neuroimaging data in these patients. To this end, the PhD candidate is required to work independently and in close collaboration with local treatment providers.

The position is embedded in the international graduate school Experimental Psychopathology (https://epp-research.eu/), which will provide theory and methods workshops and research track meetings.

The position includes teaching at the bachelor’s and master’s level for 15% of the allotted time.

The tasks of the PhD candidate are:

• Conduct research that results in a dissertation and is in line with the objectives and requirements of the project.
• Organize and execute the data collection for the different studies.
• Publish the results of the research in international scientific journals.
• Present the research findings to fellow scientists and developers in the larger project, and collaborate with them.
• Provide a limited number of educational activities at the Psychology department, such supervising theses and giving small-scale tutorials and guest lectures, in collaboration with the supervisors.

Organisation
The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has had top priority for four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists.

The Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences excels in teaching and research in the fields of human behaviour, thinking, learning, and how people live together. We work on societal issues and problems that people experience in daily life. Central to this is individual and societal resilience and how to increase this. To this end, we focus on the topics of migration, the environment and climate, health, upbringing and education, the protection of vulnerable minorities, and sustainable partnerships. The Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences employs over 650 staff members. For more information about the Faculty please check the link https://www.rug.nl/gmw/.

The Clinical Psychology group at the University of Groningen has a national and international reputation for excellence. Research within the Clinical Psychology group focuses on understanding the causal mechanisms underlying the emergence and maintenance of mental disorders, including trauma-related disorders. To this end, the group uses a large variety of research methods, ranging from lab experiments, surveys, and experience-sampling methods to brain imaging. The group is internationally diverse, collaborates with scholars within and outside of the University of Groningen, and has established contacts with various treatment providers.