Postdoc Position in Cognitive Computational Neuroscience and Human Movement Perception

The position is a fixed-term position for 32 months/2.5 years.

Introduction

The postdoc will be part of a project entitled "Mapping Experience of Action: Redefining Theories of Consciousness" funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark. The project is headed by Professor Thor Grünbaum and Associate Professor in Cognitive Psychology Mark Schram Christensen, Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen.

This interdisciplinary project develops a novel scientific approach to the study of consciousness by investigating conscious experiences of movement. Combining psychophysical experiments, computational modelling, and philosophical analysis, it examines how bodily and neural signals contribute to movement awareness. The project aims to advance our understanding of consciousness and critically evaluate leading neuroscientific theories of conscious experience.

Applicants are asked to develop a short project description for the postdoc. It is critical that applicants are able to situate their project and research plan within the framework of the overall project. It is a requirement that applicants request from Associate Professor Mark Schram Christensen (markc@psy.ku.dk) the original project proposal prior to submitting the application.

Candidates with various background may be considered for the position. Examples of relevant backgrounds are PhDs in cognitive (neuro)science, computational neuroscience, cognitive modelling, biomedical engineering, sports science with a focus on behavioural neuroscience, or similar. The candidates are expected to have strong skills in cognitive modelling, experimental design, data handling and data analysis documented in relevant scientific publications.

The postdoc will be working in close collaboration with the other project members which has academic backgrounds in cognitive neuroscience and philosophy, and student assistants with background in Cognitive Data Science. The position will be placed in the Cognition, Intention and Action research group, part of the Section for Cognition and Brain Sciences, Department of Psychology. It is expected that the successful candidate will be present, part of the team, and take part in the activities in the Lab on a daily basis.

Duties and Responsibilities

The primary focus of the postdoctoral position will be on research within the main project. However, a certain amount of teaching obligations may be required. Additional tasks beyond research and teaching may also be considered, but to a limited extent. The university will determine the final scope of the various responsibilities, and the emphasis may vary over time.

Qualification Requirements

Appointment as a postdoctoral researcher requires research qualifications at a level at least equivalent to those obtained through the satisfactory completion of a PhD programme within the relevant field.

Strong skills in data handling and analysis are crucial, and experience with cognitive/computational modelling within human behavioural science or neuroscience is key to the content of the project.

You can find further information about the qualification requirements for postdoctoral positions here: Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (In Danish only).

You can also find further information about the postdoctoral position on our English webpage on career paths for early-career researchers at the University of Copenhagen: Career at The University of Copenhagen.

Strategy of the Faculty of the Social Sciences

The Department of Psychology is part of the Faculty of the Social Sciences. The faculty is a successful academic community that strives to put knowledge into action by:

Engaging partners in the co-creation of knowledge, learning and social change.

Empowering our students to become reflective and responsible citizens who have the vision, the knowledge and the competences to change society for the better.

Energising global, European and Danish communities of knowledge by innovating research methodologies and by research findings with impact.

For more on the faculty’s strategy, please see: Strategy for the Faculty of Social Science.

Assessment Criteria

Applicants will primarily be assessed in relation to their research qualifications, including their publications, ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations, and their experience of research management. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and research potential will be assessed in relation to the overall project described above.

Teaching qualifications are not a requirement.

Application

Please submit your application online. To apply, please click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of this page. The application must be written in English, and include the following attachments in PDF or Word format:

• CV (max. 3 pages)
• Cover letter including the preferred starting date (max. 1 page)
• Documentation of qualifications (exam certificates and PhD diploma)
• Complete publication list (attached publications must be marked with an asterisk). The list must be structured systematically and divided into the following categories: You can attach a maximum of 3 publications. The publication dates must be clearly marked on the list. The selected publications must be uploaded as attachments and numbered 1-3.
  • Peer-reviewed publications:
  • Monographs and anthologies
  • Articles in journals
  • Book chapters/anthology contributions, etc.
  • Non-peer-reviewed publications:
  • Publications disseminating research findings, etc.
• A short project description (max. 2 pages).
  • The description should outline your ideas for the postdoc project situated in the state-of-the-art research in the field of the project. It should include your proposals for specific types of experimental and modelling approaches that you envision to contribute with to the project. The description must not exceed 2 standard pages, corresponding to approx. 4,800 characters (including title, punctuation, figures, footnotes and references, but excluding bibliography). A substantial breach of this will result in the application being excluded from consideration.
• Research plan (max. 2 pages)
  • The plan should include a brief account of previous research, current research projects, and a forward-looking outline of planned research contribution over the coming years. This may include specific references to the project proposals funded by Independent Research Foundation Denmark, and how the candidate expect to contribute to the project at large.

Salary and Terms of Employment

Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range for postdoctoral positions starts at DKK 39,000/approximately EUR 5,100 + an 18.07 % pension contribution. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

Recruitment Process

After the application deadline, the Head of Department will consider advice from the appointment committee and select applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. The Head of Department will set up an expert assessment committee to assess the shortlisted applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. Each shortlisted applicant will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment before the appointment is announced.

You can find further information on our recruitment process at: Recruitment process.

International Applicant?

The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about our services at: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace

The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. To learn more about our diverse workplace and our participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, please visit HR Excellence in Research.

Contact Information

For additional information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Mark Schram Christensen at email markc@psy.ku.dk or phone +45-3532 2448.

For more Information about the recruitment process, please contact HR South at hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number: 211-2675/26-2I

The application deadline is 1 December 2026 at 23:59 CET.

Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered. However, changes may be made to the submitted application right up until the deadline.

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Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

Info

Application deadline: 01-12-2026

Employment start: 01-03-2027

Department/Location: Department of Psychology