Tenure-Track Assistant Professor position in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

Welcome to Maastricht University!
How does the developing brain shape the way we learn and feel? And how can that knowledge help us optimize education and child health care? At Maastricht University, the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience group is addressing exactly these questions. We’re looking for an enthusiastic colleague to help us push the field forward.

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor position in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

Our goal: Our Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (DCN) section investigates behavioral and brain mechanisms underlying cognitive, language, socio-emotional, and sensorimotor development from infancy to adulthood, and how these mechanisms shape individual differences in learning, behaviour, and mental health. 

Your colleagues: Our lab is embedded in the Cognitive Neuroscience (CN) department at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN), Maastricht University. You will join an international and collaborative research community of around 50 permanent staff members and 60 temporary staff (PhD candidates and postdocs). Together, we work across dedicated research lines aimed at understanding and modelling the neural mechanisms and trajectories of cognition, behaviour, and development. The CN department offers an environment that combines cutting-edge methodological approaches—integrating neuroimaging (EEG, ECoG, fMRI, fNIRS), high-precision behavioural tracking (eye-tracking and motion-capture), neuromodulation (NIBS, neurofeedback), and computational modelling. We take an active translational approach, enabling direct impact on healthcare and education. For example, the “Brain and Language” team within the DCN section develops educational neuroscience applications, including digital tools for the early prediction and intervention of reading problems. 

What you do
We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious developmental cognitive neuroscientist. Depending on your unique expertise and research interests, your work will advance our understanding of neurobehavioral mechanisms at the intersection of self-regulated learning, socio-emotional development, and motivation. We offer the flexibility to shape this agenda within the broader field of educational neuroscience. Your research aims to understand and model individual differences in children’s neurodevelopmental trajectories, inspiring innovative applications in education (e.g., adaptive digital tools). You are also driven to generate novel ideas and translate them into proposals for individual and collaborative research funding.

We’re looking for someone who thrives in a team environment, both within and outside our DCN section (8 PhD students, 2 postdocs, 1 lab manager, 8 permanent staff members), including close collaboration with professionals in education, child mental healthcare and game design. 

We also hope you are an enthusiastic teacher, as the time commitment on the advertised position entails 50/50 teaching and research. Your teaching will be geared to your research interests and expertise and will mainly take place in our Developmental Psychology master, including supervision of master thesis research projects.

Your core tasks:

• Conduct Educational Neuroscience research at the intersection of self-regulated learning, socio-emotional development, and motivation
• Computational/Statistical modelling of (longitudinal) brain and behavioural data
• Generate novel ideas and translate them into grant proposals
• Contribute to the development of educational applications
• Collaborate with scientists and professionals in education/child mental healthcare
• Teach in our Developmental Psychology master and adjacent programs
• Supervise BA, MA and PhD students

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

What you bring 
Do you recognize yourself in this?

• You have a PhD and postdoctoral experience in (Developmental) Cognitive Neuroscience or a related field such as Cognitive psychology, Computational Neuroscience, Developmental science, Neuropsychology, Neuroscience;
• You have strong analytical, writing and communication skills and are interested in translating neuroscience research into educational applications; 
• You have hands-on expertise in developmental cognitive neuroscience methods, and affinity with advanced statistical analysis or computational modelling (e.g., growth curve modelling, machine learning, large language models);
• You have excellent English communication skills (oral and written). Basic Dutch understanding and speaking skills, or a willingness to learn, are a considerable advantage;
• You are an experienced and enthusiastic teacher and have demonstrated skills in teaching.  

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 permanent contract based on mutual satisfaction. 
• A gross monthly salary between €4728,00 and €6433,00 (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.
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home.
• 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 behaviour. 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 Milene Bonte via m.bonte@maastrichtuniversity.nl. The end date of the publication is 4 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.