PhD Position in Affective Neuroscience – University of Innsbruck (Austria)

March 28, 2025

The Affective Neuroscience Lab at the University of Innsbruck is inviting applications for a fully funded 4-year PhD position in the field of affective and social neuroscience. The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team investigating the cognitive and neural mechanisms of emotion regulation, emotion perception, and social decision-making, using functional neuroimaging (fMRI) and behavioral paradigms.

More about our research can be found at: www.affectiveneuro.at

Project Description

The PhD project aims to uncover the neural basis of emotional perception and regulation. Main responsibilities include:

  • Teaching one seminar per semester (2SWS)
  • Designing and conducting fMRI studies
  • Behavioral and neuroimaging data collection and analysis
  • Interpretation and dissemination of results (publications, national and international conferences)

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated and productive researcher with:

Required Qualifications:

  • Excellent Master’s degree in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive science, or a related discipline
  • Strong interest in affective neuroscience (to be demonstrated in a 1–2 page research statement)
  • Solid background in statistical analysis (preferably in R or SPSS)
  • Programming experience (e.g., Matlab, Python)
  • Willingness to learn German during the PhD is expected, as teaching duties will require sufficient proficiency in German
  • Proficiency in English (spoken and written)

Additional Desirable Skills:

  • Experience with neuroimaging techniques, especially fMRI
  • Knowledge of common neuroimaging analysis methods (e.g., decoding, connectivity)
  • Previous academic contributions (e.g., publications, conference presentations)
  • Communication and presentation skills
  • Team spirit and willingness to contribute to a collaborative research environment
  • German language skills are an asset
  • International and practical research experience is advantageous

What We Offer:

  • A dynamic and supportive research environment
  • Access to cutting-edge neuroimaging facilities
  • Opportunities for further training and international collaboration
  • Competitive funding and social benefits

Start date: 18.10.2025
Location: University of Innsbruck, Austria

Application

Applications can only be submitted via the following link:
👉 https://lfuonline.uibk.ac.at/public/karriereportal.details?asg_id_in=14958

Please include the following documents:

  • Letter of motivation
  • CV
  • Research statement (1–2 pages)
  • Relevant certificates and transcripts
  • Contact information for at least one academic reference

Application deadline: 16.04.2025
For any questions regarding the position, please contact: 

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