PhD Stelle im Affective Neuroscience Lab

PhD Position

The Affective Neuroscience Lab at the University of Innsbruck in Austria (https://www.uibk.ac.at/de/psychologie/) is considering applications for a funded 3-year PhD position from 1st of December 2024. The PhD student will contribute to several programs of research in the lab, including the neural mechanisms involved in emotion regulation. The lab uses functional neuroimaging and behavioral paradigms. More information on the lab's research can be found at https://www.affectiveneuro.at/.  

The position is designed for a talented and productive researcher with a MA in psychology, neuroscience, or a related field, who takes innovative approaches to the study of social cognitive and/or affective processes and their neural basis. This opportunity provides a transition to career independence through the development of professional skills; supervision by a faculty mentor incorporating an individual development plan in support of training goals; and publication of research findings. 

Project

IMPROVER (IMPROVing Emotion Regulation) will develop and test a highly novel, neuronal-informed ER training program with personalized ER prevention strategies. Its goal is also to provide an extensive, mechanistic characterization of training-related effects on ER capacities by selectively targeting specific processes involved in ER, and with a particular focus on participants at risk for mental disorders due to ER deficits. IMPROVER assumes that a short, inexpensive, and easily accessible regime of neurally-targeted cognitive training can lead to improvements in ER by enhancing general functioning of the underlying large-scale networks and thereby result in robust transfer effects. To accomplish this overarching goal, IMPROVER will use cutting-edge, non-invasive brain imaging methods along with advanced pattern-information and effective connectivity analyses. In addition, in order to link the neural mechanisms underlying ER with daily-life experiences, within-day changes in mood will be assessed by mobile technologies (Ecological Momentary Assessment). IMPROVER will move the field from its focus on describing population averages to one centered on understanding person-specific processes that constantly vary as a function of context. IMPROVER will inform the development of self-administered and self-guided smartphone-based prevention programs that will foster well-being, resilience and coping with negative emotions in daily life.

The position involves 

• conducting research and performing fMRI experiments; 
• analyzing fMRI data; 
• preparing and presenting reports of research results; 
• presenting the findings at international conferences.

 Requirements and Skills

• Excellent master degree in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive science, or an equivalent discipline
• High motivation and interest in interdisciplinary research
• Solid background in statistical analysis (SPSS, R)
• Of advantage is a background in any of the following areas:
  • knowledge of neuroscientific methods (fMRI, EEG)
  • knowledge of conducting behavioral experiments
  • programming experience (e.g., Matlab, Python, Presentation)

How to apply

Please apply by sending one pdf file including a short statement of research interests, CV, Transcripts, and a list of reference to Prof. Dr. Carmen Morawetz (neurolab-psychology@uibk.ac.at).

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the positions have been filled.