About the opportunity
The Chair of Philosophy of Language and Cognition at Ruhr University Bochum invites applications for a fixed-term, full-time postdoctoral position. The successful candidate will work on research project A11, ‘The role of episodic memory in non-factual scenario construction,’ within the interdisciplinary Collaborative Research Center (CRC 1844) ‘Episodic Memory.’ The role involves theoretical, experimental, and computational modeling work, including conducting online experiments on episodic memory, instructive imagination, and counterfactual causal reasoning. The position offers an opportunity to collaborate with an international team of philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists in a research-active environment. The appointment is fixed-term until December 31, 2030, and is conditional on final third-party funding approval.
Salary and benefits
- Salary based on the collective agreement of the Länder (TV-L E13), subject to requirements
- High level of independence in research tasks
- Collaboration within an internationally renowned interdisciplinary team
- Access to excellent research facilities at the THINK research building
- Support for work-life balance, including childcare and mobile playroom options
- Free language courses for employees
Who can apply?
- PhD in philosophy, cognitive science, or a related discipline
- Background in philosophy of mind, epistemology, psychology, or computational modeling
- Research interest in memory, imagination, causal cognition, or predictive processing
- Willingness to acquire statistical and programming skills (Qualtrix, Matlab, and/or Python)
- Very good writing skills
- Competence in German or English, with willingness to learn the other
Required documents
- CV including a list of publications
- Letter of interest (maximum 1 page)
- Writing sample
- Two letters of reference
When to apply
- Application deadline: 2026-10-26
- Start date: January 01, 2027, or at the earliest possible date
How to apply
- Prepare all required documents
- Submit application via the official online portal
- Reference number ANR 6194 must be mentioned in the application
Additional information
- The position is conditional on a final positive funding decision by the DFG Senate in late November 2026
- No teaching obligations are associated with this position
- The Staff Council may participate in selection interviews upon candidate request
- Travel and application costs 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…
- Ideal for researchers with a background in philosophy of mind or cognitive science who are eager to engage in interdisciplinary work involving psychology and neuroscience.
- Strong fit for candidates interested in computational modeling or experimental methods, even if they need to acquire specific software skills on the job.
- Excellent opportunity for those seeking a long-term, stable research position within a major German university's collaborative research environment.
What should you think carefully about?
- The position is fixed-term until December 31, 2030, and is contingent upon final third-party funding approval, which is expected in late November 2026.
- Applicants should be prepared to work in a bilingual environment (German and English) and be willing to learn the language they are less proficient in.
- The role requires a mix of theoretical and practical tasks, including conducting online experiments and administrative duties, which may differ from purely theoretical academic roles.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This position is highly suitable for a postdoctoral researcher looking to deepen their expertise in the philosophy of memory and cognitive science while gaining experience in interdisciplinary, grant-funded research. It provides a structured environment to produce high-quality publications and contribute to a large-scale research project, which can be a significant stepping stone for a career in academia or research-intensive institutions.
Our take
This is a compelling opportunity for early-career researchers in philosophy or cognitive science who want to work at the intersection of theory and empirical research. Candidates should be comfortable with the interdisciplinary nature of the project and the requirement to work in both English and German. Those interested should apply by the October 26, 2026 deadline, keeping in mind the conditional nature of the funding.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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