Research assistant Cognitive Neuroscience

Natural Sciences/Health        ·       Nijmegen        ·       Full time

Published: 12 Oct
Deadline: 11 Jan
Location: Nijmegen

Job Description

We are looking for two research assistants who will be working on three related projects that all focus on the identification of biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related neurodevelopmental conditions. Will you join our ambitious team?

As part of two large European consortia, AIMS-2-TRIALS and CANDY, both funded by the European Union, we conduct three clinical studies:

• The first is a new follow-up assessment of the Longitudinal European Autism Project (LEAP). The main aim is to identify prognostic, stratification, and/or outcome biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children, adolescents and adults with ASD. LEAP is a multi-site multi-disciplinary study that employs a longitudinal design. Target numbers for Nijmegen are 110 ASD participants and 70 controls. Phenotyping involves questionnaires and semi-structured interviews probing the presence and severity of ASD and comorbidities. The MRI session includes structural MRI, MRS, resting state functional and Diffusion weighted acquisitions. Further, EEG, eye-tracking and measures for sensory processing are collected, along with tablet and computer based tasks to assess neurocogniton.
• The second is the Preschool Brain Imaging and Behaviour Project (PIP). Here we conduct a multi-site case control study in preschoolers age 3-5 year with ASD, ADHD or Intellectual Disability, and healthy controls over 3 time points. Phenotyping involves questionnaires and semi-structured interviews probing the presence and severity of ASD, ADHD and comorbidities. The MRI session is conducted in the evening hours, while the preschoolers are asleep, and includes structural MRI, MRS, resting state functional and diffusion MRI. Further, EEG/ERP measures, eye-tracking measures and measures for sensory processing, and tablet and computer based tasks are administered to assess neurocogniton.
• The third is a study in families with multiple individuals affected with ASD, ADHD and/or Intellectual Disability (so called MULTIPLEX study). The focus here is on careful phenotyping by questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Contacting and inviting participants/families and scheduling assessments.
• Administer and score clinical, behavioural and cognitive measures.
• Collect EEG/ERP and eye-tracking measures.
• Acquire MRI measures.
• Data processing and storage.
• Frequent communication (teleconferences etc) with the teams at the other sites.

Requirements

You have a master degree in psychology, or neuroscience, or related discipline. You are scientifically interested, have good organizational and planning skills, the ability to work in teams, and a very precise style of working. Furthermore:

• Preferably experience in working with autistic people and their families.
• Experience in administering clinical, behavioural and/or cognitive measures.
• Fluent in Dutch, and excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Conditions Of Employment

Fixed-term contract: 2 years with a possible extension of 1 year.

Working at Radboud university medical center means that you are ahead of the curve and working together on the healthcare of the future. And there is more. Our secondary terms of employment are impressive. These are fully tailored to you thanks to our Employment Conditions Selection Model. At Radboud university medical center, you will be given trust, and you will take the responsibility to handle everything together.

• A gross monthly salary between € 2.558 and € 3.422 (scale 7) based on full-time employment.
• An annual vacation allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• If you work irregular hours, you will receive an allowance.
• As a full-time employee (36 hours per week), you are entitled to approximately 168 vacation hours (over 23 days) per year.
• Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. You pay the rest of the premium with your gross salary.
• You get a discount on health insurance as well: you can take advantage of two group health insurance plans. UMC Zorgverzekering and CZ collectief.
• We provide annual courses, both professional and personal.

In addition to our terms of employment, we also offer employees various other attractive facilities, such as childcare and sports facilities. Want to learn more? Take a look at the CAO UMC.

Employer

Radboudumc

The Department for Cognitive Neuroscience aims to understand the development and function of the nervous system in health and disease with a special focus on neurodevelopmental, stress related and sensory disorders. It focusses on excellent translational research at the intersection of cognitive and clinical neurosciences and on teaching and training researchers and health professionals.

We aim to achieve our objectives by:

• International recognition based on innovative expertise, publications, grants, scientific awards and networks.
• Excellent scientific training to master and PhD students.
• Expert teaching and teaching development within the UMC and beyond.
• Interaction with top researchers, clinical partners and others to promote interdisciplinary knowledge transfer and to develop potential applications.

Radboudumc

Radboud university medical center is a university medical center for patient care, scientific research, and education in Nijmegen. Radboud university medical center strives to be at the forefront of shaping the healthcare of the future. We do this in a person-centered and innovative way, and in close collaboration with our network. We want to have a significant impact on healthcare. We want to improve with each passing day, continuously working towards better healthcare, research, and education. And gaining a better understanding of how diseases arise and how we can prevent, treat, and cure them, day in and day out. This way, every patient always receives the best healthcare, now and in the future. Because that is why we do what we do.

Read more about our strategy and what working at Radboud university medical center means. Our colleagues would be happy to tell you about it. #weareradboudumc

Additional Information

Any questions? Please contact Professor Jan Buitelaar, Professor at the Faculty of Medical Scienses, chair of Psychiatry and child- and adolescent psychiatry or Dr. Natalie Forde, Postdoctoral researcher. Use the Apply button to submit your application.

Please click here to apply.