Current Vacancies

  • You will find below the current vacancies. Interested candidates can also contact us directly to learn more about individual grants provided by the FWO (Belgium) or apply with us to a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual fellowship (European Commission). Getting your own grants can be very important for your scientific career. It will ensure your independence as a researcher, as you will be able to work on your own research project while showing that you successfully received competitive grants.
  • The FWO offers to successful candidates either a 4-year (2+2) grant to Ph.D. students or a 3-year grant to postdoctoral researchers (there are two categories: junior and senior). Deadlines are typically around December 1st for postdoctoral researchers and around March 1st for Ph.D. students. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual fellowship offers 2 or 3 year-grants.
  • More information can be found here: https://www.fwo.be/en/ or here https://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/actions/postdoctoral-fellowships
  • Be aware that it usually takes a few months to write a research project that is competitive enough for those grants. Don’t hesitate to contact us in advance if you want to prepare such grant applications with us!
  • International students are welcome to apply with the ERASMUS program.

We are recruiting a 4-year PhD student in social & cognitive neuroscience!

I. Educational Degree / Diploma

Master degree in experimental psychology, cognitive sciences, brain sciences, or behavioral/cognitive/social neuroscience. For diplomas awarded outside the European Union, a certificate of equivalence (NARIC) must be submitted.

II. Role and description

The project is part of the FWO Junior Research Project, granted to Prof. Dr. Emilie Caspar. The core goal of this project is to understand why some individuals are more likely to resist orders to harm others. It is uniquely focused on developing a social neuroscience approach to understanding the neuro-cognitive mechanisms that facilitate resistance to immoral orders in various situations. For this project, the PhD student will examine the impact of fatigue—both cognitive and physical—on people’s ability to transition from obeying to resisting an immoral order to harm another person. The project will involve training individuals in interventions that teach them how to make these transitions and evaluating how fatigue, induced by cognitive challenges, sleep deprivation, etc., influences the neural mechanisms associated with resistance to immoral orders. The project allows for flexibility, and I expect the successful applicant to contribute their own ideas to this research line.

III. Job Description

  • A full-time 4-year PhD position in social and cognitive neuroscience is available at Ghent University.
  • The successful applicant will join the Moral & Social Brain Lab (https://moralsocialbrain.com/).
  • In this project, the applicant conduct several studies using behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG) measurements.
  • The successful applicant will be responsible for conducting the studies, collection and analysis of data, publication and dissemination of the results, and will be involved in the supervision of MSc students and research interns.
  • Key tasks as a PhD fellow are:
    • To manage and carry through your research project;
    • To collect and analyze data for the project;
    • To write peer-reviewed articles in English and merge them into a PhD dissertation;
    • To disseminate your research results by presenting intermediate results at scientific conferences and publish findings in academic journals;
    • To participate in a PhD training program.
    • The successful applicant will also be invited to apply to their own grants (i.e., FWO doctoral fellowship)

IV. We offer

  • We offer you a full-time PhD Fellowship (Dehousse-bursaal) of definite duration, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which – upon positive evaluation – will be extended to a maximum of 48 months. Click here for more information about the PhD fellowship.
  • The contract will start on 1 October 2024 at the latest (possible starting date: August 1st 2024, based on the applications received and the decisions). The exact starting date will be determined by mutual agreement.
  • On top of your salary, Ghent University also offers a number of social benefits, including 36 days of paid holiday leave (on an annual basis, for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, hospitalization insurance, a wide range of training and education opportunities, access to university restaurants and university sports facilities. Click here for more information about our staff benefits.
  • It is possible to make arrangements for remote work and flexible office hours.
  • We strive to achieve a healthy work-life balance and nurture a healthy and rewarding work environment in which individual differences are welcomed and valued.

V. Job profile

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:

  • An excellent profile and excellent grades during your master’s degree.
  • Having already conducted research projects in neuroscience or experimental psychology
  • Previous experience in electroencephalography will be considered as an asset

Good English writing and communication skills are mandatory (in Belgium, most of the participants will speak English, Dutch and/or French).

VI. Application file

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

  • A motivation letter 
  • A current CV which includes a description of current research interests 
  • Copy of National Identity and/or passport and a certificate of equivalence (NARIC) (if applicable, see above). Applications without the certificate of equivalence (if applicable) will not be considered.
  • A certified copy of transcripts of BSc and MSc courses and grades
  • Copies of educational certificates (if applicable), 
  • Letters and contact information of minimum two academic referees. The academic referees can either send their letters to the applicants who can attached them to their application, or can be send to me directly. Applications without these two reference letters minimum will not be taken into account.

VII. Selection methodology

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on dates that will be communicated through emails.

VIII. How to apply

  • To apply, please send a motivation letter, detailed CV, copies of the grades of your master’s degree, the NARIC certificate of equivalence (if applicable), and letters and contact information of minimum two academic referees as a single pdf to Emilie Caspar (Emilie.Caspar@ugent.be). Please mention your names in the title of this single PDF.
  • For further information on the project or details about the position, please also contact Emilie Caspar (Emilie.Caspar@UGent.be).
  • The recruitment will involve at least two steps. A selection on the first round will lead to an oral interview with the supervisor. Based on the number of candidates, a second interview might be considered, possibly with other lab members.
  • Closing date: July 8th, 2024