"PhD Position: Memories in Motion - From Emotional Events to Life Stories"

Your project: From emotional events to life stories

The flexible nature of memory allows us to distinguish specific events, and at the same time extract their commonalities, leading to the formation of coherent narratives that span hours, days, and even years. Such memory networks shape how we see ourselves and the world, and they guide our behaviour.

While we know a lot about the processing of single events on the one hand, and autobiographical memory on the other, we do not yet have a research framework that connects the two phenomena, preventing a comprehensive understanding of one of the most fundamental human experiences. Such a framework is also key to understanding persistent mental health problems and could direct science-driven treatment innovation.

This project is part of an NWO-funded (Vidi) initiative led by Dr Renée Visser that aims to develop a new framework, connecting neuroscientific approaches that use sophisticated techniques to delineate fundamental mechanisms of memory (trans)formation with traditions favouring more holistic approaches to understanding human cognition and mental health.

In this specific project, we will:

1. Delineate cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying the development of memory networks over longer time scales;
2. Test if, and under which conditions, emotion transfers across distinct event memories;
3. Assess the impact of salient life events on the retrieval and transformation of autobiographical memory networks, and sense of self.

To address these aims, we will combine rigorous experimental paradigms that respect the richness of emotional episodic memory with longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), psychophysiological measures, ecological momentary assessment, as well as qualitative methods.

A good salary

Your salary will be determined on the basis of your experience and seniority, in accordance with the Labour agreement. The mentioned salary scale is based on a 38-hour working week.

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232 vacation hours

We offer additional parental, partner, and social engagement leave. Through the Employment Conditions Menu Card, there are options to accrue additional vacation hours.

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Financial arrangements

In addition to your salary, you receive holiday allowance (8%) and a year-end bonus (8.3%). You build up a good pension with ABP, and we offer other attractive allowances and schemes.

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Career development and room for growth

The University of Amsterdam supports professional development through training courses and open UvA lectures.

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Flexibility

You will have the flexibility to combine work and private life, often with the possibility to work from home.

All about this vacancy

What are you going to do

• Conduct a comprehensive literature review on the cognitive neuroscience of (emotional) memory processing, autobiographical memory, and the sense of self;
• Set up and run a neuroimaging study involving multiple sessions over several weeks, multi-day behavioural lab experiments, and an experience sampling study on real-life emotional events;
• Analyse neuroimaging data using multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA), behavioural and psychophysiological data from lab experiments, and EMA and qualitative data from naturalistic studies;
• Disseminate findings through four empirical papers in peer-reviewed journals and present results at (inter)national conferences and to collaborators;
• Teach and supervise bachelor and master students in the Clinical Psychology program.

What do you have to offer

You must:

• Have a Research Master’s degree in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, or a closely related field;
• Possess a strong background in quantitative research methods (statistics, experimental design);
• Be proficient in oral and written (academic) English;
• Be committed to open science practices (e.g., preregistration, data sharing).

You preferably also have some of the following:

• Experience with neuroimaging research, preferably fMRI;
• Programming skills (preferably in R or Python);
• Experience with ecological momentary assessment (EMA);
• Experience with psychophysiological experimentation;
• Strong organisational skills and focus, even under pressure;
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and openness to feedback;
• Eagerness to develop new skills such as advanced fMRI pattern analysis and time-series data analysis;
• Affinity with teaching and/or experimental psychopathology research.

What do we offer you

We offer a temporary, full-time position (30–38 hours/week) for four years. The initial appointment is for one year. Upon positive evaluation, the contract will be extended by a maximum of 36 months, culminating in a doctoral degree. Preferred start date is 1 September 2025 (negotiable).

You will work in a collaborative, supportive team that values initiative. You will meet weekly with the principal investigator and regularly with your promotor. You will also join the Dutch-Flemish postgraduate school for Experimental Psychopathology (EPP), which offers valuable training and networking opportunities.

The University of Amsterdam provides excellent facilities for career development in a vibrant and international academic environment located in the heart of Amsterdam. Your training plan will include access to courses and both national and international conferences.

Your place at the UvA

This is where you will work

You will be based in the Department of Psychology, within the Clinical Psychology program group at the University of Amsterdam, and you will join the Amsterdam Emotional Memory Lab. The lab investigates memory malleability, mechanisms of change in mental health treatments, and contributes to treatment innovation.

You will be supervised by Dr Renée Visser (PI) and Prof. Merel Kindt (promotor).

About the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG) is Europe’s largest educational and research institute in its field. Our researchers address key societal challenges, including media impact, urbanisation, inequality, mental health, and diversity. Over 1,300 staff contribute to FMG’s global leadership in social and behavioural science education and research.

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Important to know

Your application & contact

If this profile fits you and you're excited about this opportunity, we welcome your application by 13 June 2025.

Applications must include, in one combined PDF:

• A curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages, no photo);
• A motivation letter explaining your fit for the role (max. 1 page);
• A transcript of grades obtained during your BSc and MSc;
• Contact details of at least two referees (preferably including your thesis supervisor), with email and phone numbers.

Please save the file as: LastName_FirstName_Vidi_PhD.pdf

Interviews will take place end of June or early July 2025.

The position ideally begins in September or October 2025.

If you have questions, please contact Dr Renée Visser at r.m.visser@uva.nl