2 PhD candidates Linking brain function and structure to phenotypes

The Institute of Psychology of the Faculty Social and Behavioural Sciences is looking for

2 PhD candidates (1.0/0.8 FTE) for the NWO funded project entitled:

Linking brain function and structure to phenotypes: does more data in fixed sample size lead to higher replicability?

Are you interested in developing and testing new statistical models for linking brain data to phenotypic measures and application of these models in the neurosciences? We are looking for two highly motivated PhD students to join the Methodology and Statistics unit (Institute of Psychology) at Leiden University. As a PhD student you will gain the skills and knowledge to conduct cutting-edge research on data science and statistics as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Applications are invited for a four-year PhD position under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Mark de Rooij and Dr. Wouter Weeda, in collaboration with a team from the Methodology and Statistics unit. We are looking for an enthusiastic master student who would like to develop their career in the field of data science and statistics for brain data.

Interviews for the project will be held in the first two weeks of November 2024. Start date for the project is January 1st 2025.
 

Project description
A short summary of the overall project: Brain-wide association studies (BWAS) investigate the neural underpinnings of individual differences in behaviour. Recently, BWAS came under fire as these studies require huge sample sizes to be replicable. We will investigate whether the sample size requirements can be lowered when we use new (better) statistical analysis approaches. These new methods, to be developed during the project, use more data (available once the participants are scanned) and latent variables to deal with measurement error. All developed methods will be implemented in user-friendly software packages that can be freely used by the scientific community. We will test the new methods using large scale simulation studies, replicating and extending earlier studies.
A more detailed description of the two (closely related) projects can be found here.

Where you will work
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences consists of five institutes: Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Political Science, and Psychology. The faculty has approximately 7000 students and 1000 staff members. Within the institutes, not only education is provided but also groundbreaking research is conducted that pushes the boundaries of our understanding of human behaviour and societal structures. What makes our faculty unique is the diversity of research topics, the various styles of teaching, and the way professional support is organized; this provides you with the opportunity to explore and develop your interests and expertise. Visit our website for an impression: Welcome to the Leiden Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences - Leiden University.

The Institute of Psychology educates new generations to contribute to the challenges of our society, now and in the future, based on leading behavioural scientific research and education. This is achieved through collaboration both within and outside our institute in the field of Psychology and related research areas, both fundamental and applied. The broad bachelor's program and a wide variety of master's specializations also contribute to this goal. Within the institute and the academic community, there is a committed and passionate atmosphere. The themes of Health and Well-being, Social-Cognitive-Affective Decision Making, Development and Learning, and Advanced Behavioural Research Methods guide research and education. The institute values conducting these activities in a safe and inclusive environment and provides space for new developments such as open science, recognition and appreciation, and interdisciplinarity, which are anchored in its strategy. With approximately 5,000 students and 600 staff members, the institute includes the Institute Office, the Department of Bachelor Education, and 6 units for education and research: Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Social, Economic and Organisational Psychology, and Methodology and Statistics.

You will be working within the Methodology and Statistics Unit, a dynamic unit focusing on Neuroimaging Statistics, Statistical Learning and Artificial Intelligence, Applied Psychometric and Sociometric Modelling, and Responsible Research Methods. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with a dynamic team of researchers and contribute to cutting-edge research in their field. If you are a highly motivated individual with a passion for data analysis and research, please apply with your resume and motivation letter.

What you bring

• A completed (research) master's degree in statistics, data science, psychology, or a related field.
• Experience in R programming (or a similar language), Monte Carlo simulation studies, and data analysis.
• Experience with the analysis of brain data.
• A passion for interdisciplinary scientific research and psychology.
• A collaborative mindset, openness to learning new skills, and willingness to share knowledge.
• Attention to detail, and clear communication skills (both written and oral).
   

What we offer
Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.
You can expect an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.
 

We also offer:

• An employment contract of 1.0 or 0.8 FTE, initially for a period of 1 year, with the possibility of extension to a total 4 years (in case of 1.0 FTE) or to a total of 5 years (in case of 0.8 FTE). This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities.
• A salary of a minimum of € 2.872 and a maximum of € 3.670 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours).
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP.
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription or bicycle scheme, and we also offer child-care options.
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands.
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop and a mobile telephone (if applicable for the position).

For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/werken-bij/sollicitatieprocedure-en-arbeidsvoorwaarden
 

What we find important
Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.

Want to apply or find out more?
If you want to apply straight away, click the application button.

If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Prof. Dr. Mark de Rooij (rooijm@fsw.leidenuniv.nl) or Dr. Wouter Weeda, at w.d.weeda@fsw.leidenuniv.nl. You can apply until 15 October, applications will be processed immediately.

To help us get to know each other better, we follow a number of steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/werken-bij/sollicitatieprocedure-en-arbeidsvoorwaarden

• A pre-employment screening (references, diplomas, certificate of good conduct (VOG)) may be part of the selection procedure.
• Interviews will be held in the first two weeks of November 2024
• Start date for the project is January 1st 2025.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. If you nevertheless choose to send us CVs, no rights can be derived from