PhD Candidate Cognitive and learning mechanisms underlying the pain-sleep cycle

Welcome to Maastricht University!

Why do sleepless nights make pain worse - and why does pain keep us awake? In this PhD project, you will join an interdisciplinary team investigating cognitive and learning mechanisms that drive the common association between chronic pain and insomnia, generating insights with direct impact on clinical practice and patient wellbeing.

PhD Candidate Cognitive and learning mechanisms underlying the pain-sleep cycle

• Our goal: This interdisciplinary project aims to understand the temporal, causal, and mechanistic links between chronic pain and insomnia. By integrating experimental, longitudinal, and clinical research, we investigate how cognitive and learning processes maintain and amplify this cycle, ultimately informing improved treatments.
  
  
• Your colleagues: You will work within a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary team across the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) and the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), supervised by Dr. Dimitri Van Ryckeghem and Dr. Ree Meertens, alongside experts in clinical psychology, sleep research, CBT for insomnia, and large-scale longitudinal data analysis. These research groups offer an international, productive, collaborative, and interactive environment. The candidate will join the Dutch-Flemish Postgraduate School ‘Experimental Psychopathology’ (http://epp-research.eu), which will provide additional training and facilitate networking and collaboration with other researchers in the field of experimental psychopathology.

This PhD position is strategically positioned at the intersection of mental health research and treatment innovation. Your work will directly contribute to advancing mechanistic understanding and improving interventions for two highly prevalent and comorbid health conditions.

What you do

• Design and execute innovative experimental lab studies on the role of cognitive and learning processes within the pain–sleep cycle.
• Implement and evaluate a digital insomnia intervention in chronic pain populations.
• Apply advanced statistical and computational modelling techniques to analyze complex nested and already existing longitudinal datasets.
• Collaborate with clinical partners and interdisciplinary researchers.
• Disseminate research findings via scientific publications and presentations at national and international conferences.
• Contribute to a culture of open science and methodological rigor.

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you.

What you bring
We’re not looking for checkboxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

• Education background: You have a (research) master’s degree in a relevant field, including psychology, health sciences, biomedical sciences, or neuroscience.
• Research mindset: You are skilled in experimental design and have a strong interest in cognitive, clinical, or health psychology.
• Strong programming and analytical skills: You have experience or affinity with experimental programming and advanced statistical methods and data analysis, ideally with longitudinal or experimental data (or a strong interest and willingness to acquire these skills).
• Clinical affinity: You have an interest in clinical populations and interventions, and are motivated to translate research insights into clinical relevance.
• Communication skills: Excellent proficiency and communication skills in English language, both verbally as well as in writing. Proficiency in Dutch is considered a strong advantage.
• Collaborative attitude: You enjoy working in interdisciplinary teams and engaging with both academic and clinical stakeholders.

What we offer

 At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer: 

• A 12-month contract (1,0 FTE) with the prospect of a 3 year extension, based on mutual satisfaction
• A gross monthly salary between € 3.059 and € 3.881  (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

About the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN)

At FPN, we share a curiosity about the human brain and behavior. Together with our students, we explore how our brains function and learn why we do what we do. We connect perspectives and contribute to living together in society.

Interested? 
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Dr. Dimitri Van Ryckeghem at Dimitri.vanryckeghem@maastrichtuniversity.nl or +31433884049. The end date of the publication is 31 July 2026.

If you apply, please include:

• Please upload a full CV, motivation letter, and academic transcripts
• Include contact details of (at least) two referees (recommendation letters are optional)

The preferred starting date of this PhD project is 01-10-2026 (but this is negotiable).

A first interview round will be held on 18-08-2026. A second round is expected to be held end August/ beginning September.

Apply now via the button below. We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University

At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.