1 PhD position for an intervention study of “Cognitive Control” to improve health and prevent obesity in Netherlands | Maastricht University

Job description

PhD candidates for Eat Well, affiliated to MaastrichtUniversity. MaastrichtUniversity (UM) and Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC) stimulate interdisciplinary research on the improvement of health and the prevention of disease. One of their innovative and research projects is EatWell. Eat Well is an interdisciplinary research group combining expertise and knowledge from human nutrition, cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, medicine, genetics, epidemiology, law and economy. The Eat Well project currently has 4 vacancies for PhD students on the following projects: the development of a Metabolic and Mental Health Index (project 1), the development of cognitive control interventions to reduce overeating (project 2), the influence of mindset on mechanisms that regulate intake (project 3) and the development of an individual’s disease risk calculator (project 4).

Project 2: Cognitive Control Interventions

A new intervention “Cognitive Control” will be developed to improve health and prevent obesity. The training integrates cutting edge developments in the psychology of weight control and eating behaviour change derived from experimental findings, like inhibition training. Several training modules will be developed and both the feasibility and effectiveness of the new training modules will be tested.

Requirements

We are looking for PhD candidates who are intrinsically interested in interdisciplinary research, are trained in research designs and statistical methods and have strong analytical capacities. The candidate is creative, has excellent communication –, writing –, and organisational skills and is willing and able to work in an interdisciplinary team. Knowledge of the Dutch language or a willingness to learn Dutch and the willingness to relocates to (the vicinity of) Maastricht is required.

Specific requirements for this position: background in experimental cognitive psychology, programming skills and the ability to analyse large datasets, strong interest in eating behaviour/obesity and clinical psychology, and excellent writing skills.

Conditions of employment

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > staff > index and forms > HR from A-Z.

Temporary employment for 4 years. Your salary would be € 2.083,-- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.664,-- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-student salary scale. Each year an evaluation will take place.

The PhD student will participate in one or more of the following post-graduate schools: the Dutch-Flemish post-graduate school for Experimental Psychopathology (EPP), the local GraduateSchool of the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience. The Dutch Graduate Schools VLAG and the local Graduate School NUTRIM of the Faculty of Health Medicine and Lifesciences at Maastricht University Medical Centre.

Contract type: Temporary, four years

Organisation

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 15,000 students and 4,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Department

The department Clinical Psychological Science (CPS) is involved in research and academic education in the area of experimental clinical psychology. Although the themes of CPS are quite diverse, their common ground is the experimental approach to the study of psychopathology.

CPS consists of four sections: Eating Disorders and Addiction, Forensic Psychology, Behavioural Medicine, and Clinical Psychology. In the ‘eating group’ Eating Disorders, research is conducted on different types of eating disorders and obesity. Examples of research are the relationship between impulsivity and obesity, and determinants of a distorted body image. The section Forensic Psychology focuses on memory aberrations, malingering, risk assessment of forensic psychiatric patients, and lie detection. In the Behavioural Medicine section, research is conducted on psychological factors (e.g. fear of movement and hypervigilance) in the etiology and maintenance of pain. The role of optimism in somatic disorders is also studied. Some members of this section are involved in investigating sexual disorders. The section Clinical Psychology focuses on personality disorders, anxiety, and depression. For instance, cognitive processes in borderline personality and depression are studied. Research on psychotherapy for these disorders is also carried out.

Additional information The objective of the Maastricht Interfaculty Programme for Nutrition and Health ‘Eatwell!’ is to promote health and decrease chronic metabolic diseases through healthy nutrition by (1) groundbreaking interdisciplinary research, (2) active communication and promotion to society, (3) international partnerships on science and policy and (4) creation of new commercial activities in the area of Healthy Lifestyle and Personalized Nutrition. For information on EatWell go here.