Sander Nieuwenhuis

PhD position at Leiden University: The effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on cognitive functions This 4-year PhD project at the Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, investigates whether transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) can improve cognitive functions such as memory, attention, perception, and cognitive control. tVNS is a non-invasive electrical stimulation technique applied through the skin at the ear or neck. The project addresses an important scientific question, as tVNS is increasingly discussed in research and commercial contexts, but its cognitive benefits still need robust evidence. The PhD candidate will analyze the existing literature, design and run new experiments, and perform advanced data analysis including computational modelling of behavioural data. The research focuses on younger adults and older adults aged 70–80 years, with the aim of determining whether tVNS genuinely enhances cognition. The successful candidate will also publish results in international journals, present at scientific conferences, and complete a PhD dissertation within four years. There is also scope to contribute to related experiments combining tVNS with pupillometry, EEG, and fMRI. The position is based in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, within the Institute of Psychology. The institute offers a collaborative and internationally oriented research environment with strengths in cognitive psychology, health and wellbeing, development and learning, and advanced behavioural science methods. The team for this project will include Professor Sander Nieuwenhuis, a postdoctoral researcher, the PhD student, and a research assistant. This PhD is funded by a Dutch Research Council (NWO) grant awarded to Sander Nieuwenhuis. The employment contract is for 38 hours per week, initially for one year with the possibility of extension for three more years after a positive evaluation. The advertised salary is €3059–€3881 gross per month for a full-time PhD appointment, plus a holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, pension scheme, commuting reimbursement, and other university employment benefits. Applicants should have a completed or upcoming research master’s degree in cognitive neuroscience or a related field. The university seeks candidates with strong analytical and organisational skills, programming ability in Python, Matlab, or R, and an affinity for computational modelling. Excellent English communication skills are required; Dutch proficiency is highly preferred because the project involves interaction with older adults. The role also values collaboration, openness to learning, and engagement with open science practices. The application deadline is 15 September 2026. The preferred start date is 1 January 2027. Applications are submitted through the Leiden University recruitment portal.