PhD or Postdoctoral Position in Respiratory Interoception and Tobacco Addiction (ERC Starting Grant) Université catholique de Louvain in Belgium

This fully funded PhD or postdoctoral position is offered within the ERC Starting Grant project BodyCrave at the Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. The research focuses on the interoceptive mechanisms underlying addictive disorders, with a particular emphasis on how bodily signals and respiratory interoception contribute to craving and substance use in Tobacco Use Disorder. The successful candidate will join a newly established research team led by Dr. Mateo Leganes-Fonteneau, collaborating closely with Prof. Pierre Maurage’s group within the Alcohol Research Group of the Louvain Experimental Psychopathology Research Group.

The project is highly multidisciplinary, integrating interoception, human pharmacology, reward processing, and clinical research. The research environment is dynamic and collaborative, providing access to clinical populations and state-of-the-art infrastructure. The position offers strong support for career development, targeted training opportunities with international collaborators, and the possibility to pursue complementary research interests alongside the core objectives of the ERC project.

Applicants for the postdoctoral position should hold a PhD in psychology, neuroscience, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline. PhD applicants must have a Master’s degree in Psychology, Cognitive Science, or Neuroscience. Candidates should demonstrate expertise in tobacco research, human pharmacology, behavioral paradigms assessing reward processing, or psychophysiological approaches to interoception, including respiratory measures. Experience with experimental research involving human participants, quantitative skills (statistical analysis and coding in R, Python, MATLAB), strong organizational and analytical abilities, and the capacity to work independently within a multidisciplinary team are essential. Knowledge of French is an asset but not required.

Responsibilities include designing and running experimental studies on interoceptive mechanisms supporting tobacco craving and consumption, implementing pharmacological tobacco administration protocols, collecting and managing behavioral, physiological, and interoceptive data, traveling abroad for training and research stays, supervising research assistants, and contributing to data analysis and dissemination of results.

The position is fully funded for 4 years (PhD) or 2.5 years (postdoc), with competitive salaries based on seniority and coverage of transport to the workplace. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The expected start date is after September 2026, with flexibility depending on candidate availability.

To apply, submit a single PDF including an academic CV, a one-page report on past research, a one-page research proposal related to the project, and contact details of two referees. Postdoctoral applicants should also include a list of three relevant publications with descriptions. PhD applicants must provide undergraduate and master’s transcripts. Applications should be sent via email to [email protected]. For further information, visit the Alcohol Research Group website or use the provided application link.