Doctoral Position in Education Sciences and Psychology University of Tubingen Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences

3-year doctoral Position (m/f/d, 100%)

Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology

Bewerbungsfrist: 17.03.2024

The Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology is currently inviting applications for the following position:

3-year doctoral Position (m/f/d) on Motor Metacognition in Music Learning  (100% EU Project assistant contract)

We are seeking an excellent doctoral candidate who is motivated to work on an interdisciplinary field of research linking cognitive sciences to education research. Applicants can come from any of the following (or related) fields: educational science, cognitive science, experimental psychology, neuroscience, computational neuroscience. The project will be an extension of work on motor metacognition and awareness, conducted so far in the “Metamotorlab” (metamotorlab.filevich.com). In particular, the project will explore training regimes to improve metacognitive monitoring ability, and its effects on learning of a motor skill (namely playing an instrument). Research methods may include psychophysics, behavioural testing, computational modelling, movement analysis, and EEG. We especially give priority to candidates with solid experience in experimental design, advanced statistical analysis and/or experimental programming.

The position will be affiliated with an international Doctoral Network of 9 research labs located throughout Europe funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Horizon Europe) of the European Union under grant number 101119647. See https://sites.google.com/view/confidentdecisions/ for more information. The position comes with a fixed-term contract for 3 years. The expected start date is April 2024 but we are highly flexible and committed to accommodating candidates’ individual circumstances. 

The successful candidate is expected to combine research on metacognition with education sciences based on their expertise. The successful candidate will work closely together with Dr. Elisa Filevich, within the larger research group of Professors Kou Murayama and Michiko Sakaki, and is expected to design and implement studies together with other researchers at the Hector Research Institute. 

The PhD candidate will benefit from unique opportunities, including:

• Close collaboration, mentoring, and professional development from a supervisory team. 
• Work with an inspiring, multidisciplinary, and international team that includes many other talented PhD students.
• Supportive environment to enable presentations at national and international conferences and publications in highly ranked journals to advance an (international) academic career.
• Interdisciplinary training in theories and methods for the study of decision confidence. This includes many CODE-network-wide events and other (international) training opportunities.
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary and international exchange programs (e.g., lab visits).
• Opportunity to join the LEAD Graduate School & Research Network, to develop a cross-faculty collaborative interdisciplinary research network (www.lead.uni-tuebingen.de).

Requirements

Graduates (and applicants about to graduate) with a master’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, education sciences, or a related field with excellent grades and a strong interest in research from interdisciplinary perspectives are encouraged to apply. Candidates should have a proven interest in motor control, metacognition, and/or education research. Some experience and interest in quantitative research methodologies (using R, MATLAB, etc.) and experimental programming is required. Experience with Unity or C#, and proficiency in German language are desirable. 
Candidates must comply with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions rule for mobility, which holds that they have spent no more than 12 months of the past 3 years in Germany. Additionally, following the MSCA regulations, the successful applicant will do a non-academic secondment: Throughout their doctoral work, they will work in partnership with a Berlin-based choreographer to investigate the role of motor awareness in an applied (artistic) setting, and to gain experience in communicating research methods and findings to specialized lay audiences. Hence, an demonstrable interest in science communication is a plus.

The Hector Research Institute is a nationally and internationally leading research center in education sciences and psychology. Our interdisciplinary team works in a well-equipped building close to the historic old town of Tübingen, Germany. Traditionally, research at the Hector Research Institute investigates determinants of successful teaching and learning processes using large scale assessments, longitudinal studies, and randomized controlled field trials. Our team will collaborate within the institute continuing these traditions and supplement them with a diverse array of methodological approaches. More information can be found at www.hib.uni-tuebingen.de.

For further inquiries about the position, please reach out to Dr. Elisa Filevich (elisa.filevichspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de).

Applications including a cover letter detailing (1) your past project(s) and methodological skills, and (2) a brief outline of a possible research project that could make a unique contribution to the research on metacognition and education, a CV, degree and other certificates with transcripts should be sent via email in one single pdf-file stating “Metacognitive learning” in the subject line to jobsspam prevention@hib.uni-tuebingen.de. The deadline is March 17, 2024. 
Disabled candidates will be given preference over other equally qualified applicants. The University of Tübingen is committed to equal opportunities. Therefore, women and other underrepresented groups are explicitly encouraged to apply. Additional financial support for researchers with families is available. Employment will be conducted by the central university administration.