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 Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. The research focuses on respiratory interoception and tobacco addiction, specifically investigating how bodily signals and interoceptive mechanisms 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 neuroscience, psychology, human pharmacology, reward processing, and clinical research. The research environment is dynamic and collaborative, offering access to clinical populations and state-of-the-art infrastructure. The position involves designing and running experimental studies, implementing pharmacological tobacco administration protocols, collecting and managing behavioral, physiological, and interoceptive data, and contributing to data analysis and dissemination of results. Additional responsibilities include supervising research assistants and coordinating collaborative project components.

Applicants for the postdoctoral position must 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. Strong expertise in tobacco research, human pharmacology, behavioral paradigms assessing reward processing, or psychophysiological approaches to interoception (including respiratory measures) is required. Experience with experimental research involving human participants, quantitative skills (statistical analysis and coding in R, Python, MATLAB), strong organizational and analytical skills, and the ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary team are expected. Knowledge of French is an asset but not required.

The position offers strong support for career development, targeted training opportunities with international collaborators, and the possibility to pursue complementary research interests. Salaries are fixed according to seniority and are competitive within the Brussels region. Transport to the workplace is covered. The expected start date is after September 2026, with flexibility depending on candidate availability.

To apply, candidates should 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 should include undergraduate and master’s transcripts. Applications should be sent via email to [email protected]. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The application deadline is 31 October 2026.

For further information about the research group, visit https://www.uclep.be/ARL/home. Direct application link: https://academicpositions.com/#apply.