Please see the UNIGE job opening for all the details and application instructions: https://jobs.unige.ch/www/wd_portal.show_job?p_web_site_id=1&p_web_page_id=73750
Job description
The Swiss Center for Affective Sciences is inviting applications for a postdoctoral researcher position to work under the supervision of Prof. Monika Riegel on the project “How do stress hormones and sex hormones affect time perception and temporal memory in females?” , funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.
This project aims to investigate how stress and sex hormones interact to shape the way we sense and remember time, in healthy and clinical populations of females. This interdisciplinary project combines pharmacological manipulations, psychophysics, modeling of neuroendocrine and menstrual tracking data with fMRI neuroimaging and novel tFUS neuromodulation. The results will inform females’ mental health and guide sex- and hormone-specific interventions.
The successful applicant will join a newly created team led by Prof. Monika Riegel (Swiss Center for Affective Sciences and Department of Psychology, FPSE, University of Geneva) and will play an active role in the project’s scientific implementation. Specifically, the successful applicant’s responsibilities include:
- Designing and setting up psychological experiments using pharmacological manipulations, behavioral, neuroimaging and neuromodulation methods to examine the effects of stress and sex hormones on perception and memory of time in females
- Coordinating data collection, in laboratory and clinical settings (patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder)
- Operating research equipment required for the project, including neuroendocrine and physiological measures, neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques
- Analyzing multimethod data (behavioral, app tracking, neuroendocrine, neuroimaging, psychophysiological) using advanced statistical methods
- Disseminating the findings through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations
- Ensuring data management and the implementation of rigorous open-science practices throughout the project
- Supervising Master Students and supporting a PhD student
Required qualifications
Applications are open to individuals with the following qualifications:
Essential qualifications
- PhD in neuroscience, psychology, affective science, cognitive science, computer science, biostatistics or a related field
- Strong background in empirical and quantitative research, including experimental design, data collection, and statistical analysis
- Proficiency in the analysis of data collected with neuroendocrine, psychophysics and/ or neuroimaging methods
- Experience with statistical software and programming environments (e.g., R, MATLAB, Python)
- Ability to work collaboratively and autonomously in a team
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
- Commitment to open-science practices (e.g., preregistration, data and code sharing)
- Strong interest in research concerning hormonal effects on cognition and women’s mental health
Desirable qualifications
- Experience with neuromodulation techniques and/ or psychophysiological measures
- Experience with research in clinical settings (patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder)
- Knowledge of research on stress effects on perception and memory, sex hormonal fluctuations and their effects on brain and cognition, mental health
- Demonstrated ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals
- Basic knowledge of French or willingness to learn is a plus to facilitate interactions with students and participants. However, it is not a requirement
Additional information
The English translation is provided for information purposes and only the French version is binding.
Why join the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences?
- Work at the internationally renowned Swiss Center for Affective Sciences (University of Geneva), located at Campus Biotech in Geneva
- Collaborate with leading researchers in affective science, reinforcement learning, and decision-making research
- Access cutting-edge research infrastructures and resources at the Brain and Behavior Laboratory
- Be part of an interdisciplinary and inclusive research community
- Benefit from professional development and networking opportunities
- Enjoy excellent working conditions
We value curiosity, collaboration, and a supportive research environment. We are committed to removing barriers and fostering a culture of belonging where everyone is valued for who they are and are empowered to succeed. We embrace equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Starting date
September 1, 2026, or to be agreed upon.
The initial term of employment is 1 year, with the possibility of renewal for a period of 1-1.5 year.
How to apply
Your application should include:
- A cover letter explaining your motivation for the position and your interest in the project
- An academic curriculum vitae (including research achievements, list of research outputs, and ORCID/OSF/Git links if available)
- Two representative research outputs (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, preprints, book chapters, PhD thesis, conference proceedings, or datasets)
- One letter of recommendation + the names and contact details of two academic references whom you agree we may contact
And must be submitted online here: https://jobs.unige.ch/www/wd_portal.show_job?p_web_site_id=1&p_web_page_id=73750
The closing date for application is April 15th, 2026. However, we review all applications on a rolling basis and therefore advise you to apply as soon as possible. For further information or informal inquiries, please contact Prof. Monika Riegel via email ().