Student Assistant within Cognitive Neuroscience and Computational Psychiatry

The Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University invites applications for a position as a Student Assistant in the field of Cognitive Neuroscience and Computational Psychiatry. The position is for the period 1 January 2027 (or as soon as possible thereafter) to 31 August 2028. The position is a fixed-term, part-time position, for 10 hours per week in the first instance.

As a Student Assistant at the Department of Clinical Medicine, you will be part of one of the largest health science research departments in Denmark. Our clinical research covers all medical specialities and takes place in close collaboration with Aarhus University Hospital and the regional hospitals in the Central Denmark Region. We are around 670 academic employees, 500 PhD students and 160 technical/administrative employees who are cooperating across disciplines. You will be working within the Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN). You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here.

CFIN is an international, multidisciplinary research centre. Research at CFIN include fields such as cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, machine learning and biophysics. Investigators at CFIN are supported by state-of-the-art research facilities, including MRI, MEG, OPM-MEG, EEG, PET, TMS, eye-tracking and more. CFIN is part of the Danish Neuroscience Center (DNC) and the NeuroCampus Aarhus network alongside other leading neuroscience centres such as DANDRITE. You can read more about CFIN here.

About the position The successful applicant will join the Deep Cognitive Neuroscience (DCN) lab, led by Dan Bang, at CFIN. The DCN lab applies a multi-modal, cognitive neuroscience-based approach to understanding decision-making, learning and mental representations. The DNC lab combines behavioural experiments and computational modelling with electrochemical (dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline) and electrophysiological (spiking activity, LFPs) recordings from deep brain structures in awake neurosurgical patients. In addition, the DCN lab uses functional neuroimaging (fMRI/EEG) and online data collection in healthy participants.

The successful applicant will support the lab’s research. This work will include the development of tasks that probe decision-making, learning and mental representations; liaison with neurosurgeons, neurologists and other clinical staff; data collection in the operating room, typically in the context of the surgical implantation of deep brain stimulating (DBS) electrodes for the treatment of movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor); behavioural testing and neuroimaging (e.g., EEG) in healthy volunteers; statistical analysis and modelling of data; and the preparation of publications, conference presentations and other research outputs. The nature of the work means that travel and flexibility with working hours may occasionally be required (e.g., early start on surgery days).

The position is suited for students who are pursuing a master’s degree in a relevant subject area, such as cognitive science, neuroscience or psychology. The applicant must have experience with programming, data analysis and visualisation using Matlab, R and/or Python. Experience with task development, the acquisition and analysis of behavioural/neural data and computational modelling is strongly desired.

Note that this is not a remote position: the successful applicant will be expected to attend the lab in person to conduct their tasks and to attend lab events.

Your job responsibilities As a Student Assistant, your main tasks will be:

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To support data collection

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To support data analysis

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To support manuscript preparation

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To collaborate with lab members and other project participants as required

You will report to Associate Professor Dan Bang.

Your qualifications You must be an active student and provide proof of enrolment at an institution of higher education.

Specific qualifications for the position are:

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Master’s student in a relevant subject area such as cognitive science, neuroscience or psychology

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Proficiency in programming, data analysis and visualisation using Matlab, R and/or Python

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Excellent communication skills in English and Danish, both written and oral

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Willingness to travel and flexibility with work scheduling

Questions about the position If you have any questions about the position, please contact Dan Bang,

Your place of work will be the Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Clinical Medicine, which is located at (1) Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 3, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark and (2) Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, Entrance J, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

Terms of employment Terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the Circular on the collective agreement for student teachers at universities, etc.

Application

Your application must include the following:

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Motivated application

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Curriculum Vitae

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Indication of education (a copy of the diplomas should be uploaded)

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References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the recruitment system

We refer to the faculty’s Guideline for applicants.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.