Postdoc position: Early prediction of reading problems at the Department Cognitive Neuroscience

Are you interested in working with a dynamic team to develop a digital learning tool for improved early detection of reading problems? Apply for our postdoc position!
 

Job Description
Children’s reading development shows large variability. Reading problems (dyslexia) are currently diagnosed and treated after a child has failed to respond adequately to reading instruction, i.e., around 8-9 years. This is problematic because early intervention is crucial for optimal (reading) development and social opportunities. 

Within this postdoc project you will develop and test a digital dynamic assessment (DA) tool that measures kindergartners' potential for learning to read, rather than their existing skills, offering a less biased approach. DA uses interactive tasks to understand how children learn. In a two-year longitudinal study with children aged 5-8 you will evaluate the DA tool's effectiveness in predicting reading skills and identifying those needing additional support to prevent reading difficulties.

You will work together with prof. Milene Bonte, 2 PhD students and a lab manager on “Project Leeswinst” funded by an NWO Vici grant. You will perform your research in close collaboration with game-designers, dyslexia professionals, teachers and children across different regions in the Netherlands. The position will be based in the “Brain and Language” group at the Maastricht Brain Imaging Center (M-BIC). The M-BIC hosts a collaborative international team of researchers that is at the international forefront in applying behavioral and brain imaging techniques to cognitive neuroscience questions. 

As postdoc you will:

• develop and test a gamified learning task to investigate individual differences in children’s learning trajectories during reading development; 
• collect longitudinal learning/reading data in 5-8 year old children with/without familial risk of dyslexia;
• closely collaborate with an (inter)national team of researchers, game-designers and professionals in dyslexia healthcare and education;
• co-supervise 2 PhD students;
• supervise the project’s lab manager to support them in the organization of the research and the communication with parents/children;
• write scientific papers and present your findings to scientific and general audiences;
• contribute to the organization of a symposium for researchers/professionals, and a symposium for children.  

Requirements:

A PhD in Developmental Psychology or a related field, such as Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Psychology, Educational Science, Neuropsychology.

We are looking for a talented candidate with a genuine interest in understanding individual differences in reading development and improving equal chances in education. You have a strong motivation to conduct empirical research with children within a collaborative and dynamic project team. Furthermore, you are enthusiastic about working with standard and advanced data analysis methods, and possess excellent English communication and writing skills. Basic Dutch understanding/speaking skills, or a willingness to learn, are a strong advantage. Expertise in experimental research is highly desirable, as is experience with advanced analysis techniques (e.g., growth curve modeling, machine learning) and/or programming skills.

What we offer
As Postdoc position: Early prediction of reading problems at the Department Cognitive Neuroscience at 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 in scale 10 according to UFO profile Researcher, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €3378,00 and €5331,00 gross per month (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 36 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE.
• 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 Prof. dr. Milene Bonte, m.bonte@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new postdoc? 

Please submit your application before March 10, 2025 including:

• A motivation letter
• Your CV 

Selected candidates will be invited for 1 or 2 interviews that are expected to be held in April.
Preferred starting date: September 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.