PhD candidate: Psychoactive Drugs and Cognition in Legal Contexts

Our team at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) is looking for a talented and ambitious candidate for research at the intersection of psychopharmacology and legal/forensic psychology.

Job Description
As a PhD candidate, you will conduct experimental studies exploring psychoactive effects of substances such as cannabis on cognition and behaviour, and their implications for forensic judgement in legal cases. This research will focus on basic and applied measures of episodic memory, suggestibility, face recognition, and suspect decision-making under drug influence. In addition to collecting new experimental data, you will also analyze existing datasets concerning the link between psychoactive drugs and cognition.

You will be embedded in the Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology (NP&PP) at FPN, closely collaborating with the Forensic Psychology section at the Department of Clinical Psychological Science and the Faculty of Law at Maastricht University. Your supervisory team consists of Prof. Jan Ramaekers (promotor) and Dr. Lilian Kloft-Heller (daily supervisor and co-promotor), Prof. Henry Otgaar (promotor), and Dr. Melanie Sauerland (co-promotor). Additionally, 10% of your time will be dedicated to teaching activities (e.g., courses relevant to this research line). 

In this role, you will:

• Design study protocols and conduct experimental drug studies on memory distortions, decision-making, and cognition in legally relevant situations.
• Analyze behavioral and psychophysiological data from experimental research.
• Work with existing datasets, including studies on cannabis and memory distortions, and LSD-related false memory formation.
• Disseminate findings through scientific publications, conferences, and outreach activities.
• Assist in teaching activities, including tutoring and student supervision.

Requirements
Background

• Successful completion of a Master’s degree in psychology, psychopharmacology, forensic/legal psychology, behavioral neuroscience, or a related field.

Skills

• A scientific mindset, critical thinking skills, and a strong interest in psychopharmacology and legal applications.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.
• Excellent communication skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Strong skills in statistical analysis.
• Fluency in Dutch is an advantage but not a must.
• Previous research experience is a plus but not a must.

What we offer
As a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary from €2901,00 in the first year and €3707,00 gross per month in the fourt year (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow. 
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model. 
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students. 
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'. 

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?
At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM. 

Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
The Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) is an international faculty with students and staff from various cultural backgrounds, who are connected by their shared curiosity about human behaviour and our brains.   

This curiosity inspires us to explore the wide field of psychology from different perspectives (such as a biological and cognitive viewpoint). By using small-scale and student-centred methods, such as problem-based learning and project-based learning, we encourage a similar kind of curiosity in our students, as we provide them with the tools to discover the world of the human brain.  

 
Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Lilian Kloft-Heller at l.kloft@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD candidate? Apply now, no later than 11 May 2025, for this position.

To apply, please submit:

• CV (max. 2 pages).
• Motivation letter (max. 1 page),
• Grade list from the Master’s programme,
• Research proposal (max. 500 words, excluding references) outlining how you would approach the topic. This can, for example, include a field study at an event like Lowlands Science (https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/call-lowlands-science-2025-open), but candidates are free to propose other designs that align with the project’s objectives.
   

The interviews will preferably take place mid June. 

A reference check may be part of the application procedure. 

Position start date: 1 October 2025

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

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.