PhD Positions in Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging: Memory, Attention, Decision Making and AI Methods

The Brain & Cognition Team at Erasmus University Rotterdam is offering two fully funded PhD positions to investigate how memory, attention, and decision making change as we age, and how technology can help us better understand and support these processes. These positions are part of a broader research program in the Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies (DPECS) within the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB). Successful candidates will join an interdisciplinary team focused on the cognitive neuroscience of aging, with projects examining risky decision-making and spatial navigation in older adults. The research will employ advanced experimental, neuroimaging (EEG, fMRI), and AI-based modeling techniques, as well as VR environments, to study cognition in complex and ecologically valid contexts. The projects aim to advance understanding of brain plasticity and resilience, and to explore the societal impact of emerging technologies on cognitive health in later life. Supervision will be provided by Dr. Muhammet Ikbal Sahan (spatial cognition and working memory), Prof. Dr. Katinka Dijkstra (cognitive training, resilience, and stress in aging), and Prof. Dr. Janna Cousijn (brain-environment interactions and mental health). The team’s expertise spans neurobiological, cognitive, and social dimensions, and emphasizes open and responsible science. PhD candidates will design, implement, and analyze behavioral and cognitive neuroscience experiments, contributing to both lab-based and web-based research. They will work with state-of-the-art methodologies, including eye-tracking, EEG, and fMRI, and will be expected to handle data preprocessing and analysis using Python, R, or MATLAB. Collaboration within a multidisciplinary team is essential, and candidates will contribute to conference presentations, reports, and publications, as well as to the development of tools or policy-relevant outcomes for broader implementation. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, or a closely related field, with experience in empirical research, data processing, statistical analysis, programming, and computational modeling. Familiarity with experimental methods (EEG, fMRI, behavioral testing) and experience with aging or elderly populations are advantageous. Proficiency in Dutch is required for one position and strongly recommended for the other. Excellent English communication skills, strong academic writing, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively are essential. Affinity with teaching is a plus. The positions are fully funded, with a starting salary of €3,059 gross per month (full-time, scale PhD, 38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU. The contract is initially for one year, with the intention to extend to a four-year PhD trajectory upon satisfactory performance. Additional benefits include 41 days paid leave (with 40-hour contract), 8% holiday pay, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, pension contributions, work-life balance options, development opportunities, and relocation support for international candidates. Applications should be submitted via the official EUR application portal, including a motivation letter and CV, before the deadline of December 15, 2025. The selection process includes at least one interview and a writing assignment, with interviews expected in January 2026. For more information, visit the EUR vacancies page or contact the listed supervisors. Erasmus University Rotterdam is committed to diversity, inclusion, and positive societal impact, and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.