1 Postdoctoral Researcher on the project Effects of Physical Activity and Fitness on the Cognitive Prerequisites of Learning in Finland | University of Jyväskylä

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in a project addressing the effects of physical activity and fitness on brain structure and function. The positions are open in the Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain Research (CIBR), located in the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Department of Psychology.

The newly established research center focuses in the study of “changing brain” to and the main research areas are related to learning and learning difficulties, neural basis of development throughout lifespan and intervention and wellbeing.

Vacant position is related to a new research project Effects of Physical Activity and Fitness on the Cognitive Prerequisites of Learning, funded by Academy of Finland. University of Jyväskylä is internationally well known for its research in the field of sport biology, and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain Research will combine advanced neuroimaging methods to this domain. The project is part of a larger consortium with main sites of research in University of Jyväskylä (CIBR, Department of Biology of Physical Activity) and LIKES (Research Centre for Sport and Health Sciences), Jyväskylä, Finland.

Our national and international collaborative network combines expertise from neuroimaging, signal processing, psychology, cell-biology, animal neurophysiology and epidemiology. The neuroimaging (MRI and MEG measurements) will be done in collaboration with Aalto University, O.V. Lounasmaa Laboratory and AMI (Advanced Magnetic Imaging) Centre, Helsinki, Finland. The research team consists altogether of about 20 researchers studying the link between physical activity and learning at three different levels; epidemiological, neuroimaging and neurophysiology/behavioral neuroscience. We offer a truly interdisciplinary environment with well-planned and organized recruitment of subjects utilizing existing large cohort studies in Finland.

Postdoctoral Researcher fixed-term position beginning November 1st 2014 until May 31st 2017

The selected Postdoctoral Researcher will be assigned to the new research project Effects of Physical Activity and Fitness on the Cognitive Prerequisites of Learning.

Postdoctoral Researcher is expected to a have a Doctoral degree, ability for independent scientific work and relevant teaching skills.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will be responsible for the MRI experiment, and is expected to have a solid background in MRI data analysis and a Doctoral degree in a related field.

The applicant’s merits are assessed on the basis of previous scientific work and experience with experimental research (including designing paradigms, obtaining and analyzing neuroimaging data, publication record), motivation and research interests.

Familiarity with cognitive neuroscience questions, especially attention and executive functions, is regarded as a merit. Familiarity with signal processing environments (e.g. MATLAB, PYTHON) is appreciated.

Members of the teaching and research personnel in the University of Jyväskylä are obliged, within their respective job descriptions and work plan, to conduct and supervise scientific research, follow the development in their respective disciplines, examine theses and dissertations, teach and enhance teaching practices, provide study counselling, carry out relevant examinations, participate to student selection as well as attend to task derived from membership in the University’s administrative bodies and to other tasks counted as part of their work or assigned to them. In addition, they are to provide the necessary accounts concerning teaching, counselling and supervision, publications and scientific activities, as well as the examinations they have arranged.

University teaching and research positions require a full command of the teaching language, Finnish. Good English language skills and ability to teach in English is regarded as a merit. When considered appropriate, the university can grant exemption from the language proficiency requirements. In the project Effects of Physical Activity and Fitness on the Cognitive Prerequisites of Learning the working languages are English and Finnish.