About the opportunity
The Faculty of Computer Science at Ruhr University Bochum invites applications for a fixed-term, part-time doctoral position in computational neuroscience within Project Z02 of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1844 “Episodic Memory”. The project develops a digital serious game for citizen science, establishing a bidirectional bridge between episodic memory research and the general public to facilitate large-scale data collection, longitudinal research, and intervention studies. The successful candidate will analyze behavioral data from gamified tasks, adapt laboratory experiments into a serious game setting in collaboration with the Cologne Game Lab, and collaborate across disciplines with neuroscientists, psychologists, and philosophers. The position is part-time at 75% of standard working hours (29.87 hours per week), starting January 1, 2027, pending funding approval, and runs until the end of the project on December 31, 2030.
Salary and benefits
- Salaried position based on the collective agreement of the Länder (TV-L) at pay grade E13 TV-L, subject to personal and collective agreement requirements
- Options for flexible working, including mobile working and teleworking
- Support for combining family life and work, including on-campus childcare arrangements, holiday offers, and mobile playrooms
- Qualified on-boarding and induction process with training in interdisciplinary research and access to academic support initiatives
- Working in the new research building THINK, equipped with cutting-edge technology, parent-child offices, and common networking areas
- No teaching obligation if funded by third-party funds
- Free German and English language courses provided by the University Language Center
Who can apply?
- An excellent master's degree, or equivalent, in computational neuroscience, physics, mathematics, computer science, or a related field
- Competence in mathematical modeling and statistical analysis
- Excellent programming skills, such as in Python
- Relevant research experience in neuroscience or a related field
- Excellent communication skills in English
- Ability to work independently and demonstrate team spirit
- Competence in either German or English with a willingness to learn the other language
Required documents
- Letter of motivation
- CV
- Transcripts
- Research statement
When to apply
- Application deadline: November 2, 2026
- Position start date: January 1, 2027, pending funding approval
How to apply
- Prepare all required documents compiled into a single PDF file
- Submit your application through the official online application portal by mentioning reference number ANR 6182
Additional information
- The place of work is Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
- The position is fixed-term and runs until December 31, 2030.
- Travel costs, accommodation costs, and loss of earnings or other application costs for job interviews cannot be reimbursed.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- You hold a master's degree in computational neuroscience, computer science, physics, or mathematics and want to apply your programming and modeling skills to cognitive science.
- You are enthusiastic about science communication and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly combining game development with empirical psychology and neuroscience.
- You value structured academic support, family-friendly workplace initiatives, and working within a major collaborative research center.
What should you think carefully about?
- The position is offered on a part-time basis (75%, 29.87 hours/week), which may affect total compensation and living budget calculations.
- The appointment is fixed-term through December 31, 2030, aligning with the project's end date.
- Relocation to Bochum, Germany, is required, and fluency or willingness to learn campus languages (German or English) is necessary.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This doctoral position is an excellent stepping stone for researchers aiming for an academic career in computational cognitive neuroscience or interdisciplinary digital research. It provides robust publishing opportunities, broad collaboration networks across psychology and computer science, and institutional backing within a prominent German research university.
Our take
This role is ideal for ambitious master's graduates with strong computational skills who want to pursue a structured PhD in an innovative, interdisciplinary environment. Candidates who require full-time employment or permanent contracts should note the fixed-term and part-time nature of the role.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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