PhD position: Embodied Time

Explore how body perception shapes our experience of time as a PhD at Utrecht University. Are you driven to uncover the psychological depths of time perception?

Job description

Are you fascinated by how we experience time? Then join the NWO Open Competition project titled Embodied Time: Does Body Perception Influence Subjective Time Experience?

Your job
Why does time sometimes seem to go faster or slower? It is well known that cognitive functions such as attention and memory have an effect on time perception. However, the role of body perception on our experience of time has received little attention until now. This project will use bodily illusions to assess how body perception influences our experience of time. Mediated and virtual reality will be used to change body perception. They will be combined with psychophysical methodology to assess changes in time perception. The project will be supervised by Chris Dijkerman, Krista Overvliet and Anouk Keizer. The project will run for four years. You will participate in the PhD education programme of the Helmholtz research school.

Your work will include 10% teaching tasks, such as the supervision of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and seminars for courses related to experimental psychology. Of course, you will be guided and supported by your supervisor and colleagues.

Requirements

We are looking for an enthusiastic and collaborative team member, who meets the following requirements:

• experience with or interest in body perception and/or time perception;
• a (Research) Master’s degree in the field of experimental psychology, neuropsychology, applied cognitive psychology, neuroscience and cognition, cognitive neuroscience, or equivalent programme;
• high proficiency in written and spoken English;
• some affinity for and experience with programming (i.e., Matlab, Python, or R);
• excellent knowledge of quantitative research and statistics and a high motivation to learn new methods;
• affinity with and good communication abilities for working in a multidisciplinary research team;
• demonstrated experience, and motivation to contribute to the teaching activities of the faculty.

Conditions of employment

We offer:

• a position for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment;
• a working week of 36 to 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,872 and €3,670 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Employer

Universiteit Utrecht

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues. The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.

Additional information

For more information about this position, please contact Chris Dijkerman at c.dijkerman@uu.nl.

Please note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. Our International Service Desk (ISD) can answer your questions about living in the Netherlands as international staff. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.