PhD Position: Curiosity in the Classroom

Curiosity is a powerful driver of learning, yet we still know relatively little about how curiosity unfolds in the classroom and how educational environments can support children in becoming curious and actively seeking information. In this PhD project, you will investigate curiosity in 10-to 12-year-old children within authentic educational settings.

The project combines experimental research, classroom studies and computational modelling to better understand what makes children curious, how they decide which information to explore, and how different ways of structuring learning environments influence curiosity and learning. Computational models will be used to characterise individual differences in information-seeking behaviour and to examine how these differences relate to learning in the classroom. A central aim is to translate insights from fundamental research on curiosity into educational practice.

You will design and conduct studies in collaboration with primary schools and educational partners, review the scientific literature, recruit and test participants, develop and evaluate educational materials and experimental tasks, analyse behavioural data, apply computational modelling techniques, and write scientific articles that will form the basis of your dissertation.

You will work closely with your supervisors, another PhD candidate investigating the cognitive neuroscience of curiosity, and a broader interdisciplinary team of researchers in psychology, cognitive neuroscience and educational science. You will also collaborate with schools, teachers and educational organisations to conduct research in real-world learning environments.

The position involves frequent communication with children, parents, teachers, schools and other stakeholders, presenting your work to national and international audiences, and contributing to teaching for approximately 10% of your time.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.

PhD Position: Curiosity in the Classroom

Curiosity is a powerful driver of learning, yet we still know relatively little about how curiosity unfolds in the classroom and how educational environments can support children in becoming curious and actively seeking information. In this PhD project, you will investigate curiosity in 10-to 12-year-old children within authentic educational settings.

The project combines experimental research, classroom studies and computational modelling to better understand what makes children curious, how they decide which information to explore, and how different ways of structuring learning environments influence curiosity and learning. Computational models will be used to characterise individual differences in information-seeking behaviour and to examine how these differences relate to learning in the classroom. A central aim is to translate insights from fundamental research on curiosity into educational practice.

You will design and conduct studies in collaboration with primary schools and educational partners, review the scientific literature, recruit and test participants, develop and evaluate educational materials and experimental tasks, analyse behavioural data, apply computational modelling techniques, and write scientific articles that will form the basis of your dissertation.

You will work closely with your supervisors, another PhD candidate investigating the cognitive neuroscience of curiosity, and a broader interdisciplinary team of researchers in psychology, cognitive neuroscience and educational science. You will also collaborate with schools, teachers and educational organisations to conduct research in real-world learning environments.

The position involves frequent communication with children, parents, teachers, schools and other stakeholders, presenting your work to national and international audiences, and contributing to teaching for approximately 10% of your time.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.

PhD Position: Curiosity in the Classroom

Curiosity is a powerful driver of learning, yet we still know relatively little about how curiosity unfolds in the classroom and how educational environments can support children in becoming curious and actively seeking information. In this PhD project, you will investigate curiosity in 10-to 12-year-old children within authentic educational settings.

The project combines experimental research, classroom studies and computational modelling to better understand what makes children curious, how they decide which information to explore, and how different ways of structuring learning environments influence curiosity and learning. Computational models will be used to characterise individual differences in information-seeking behaviour and to examine how these differences relate to learning in the classroom. A central aim is to translate insights from fundamental research on curiosity into educational practice.

You will design and conduct studies in collaboration with primary schools and educational partners, review the scientific literature, recruit and test participants, develop and evaluate educational materials and experimental tasks, analyse behavioural data, apply computational modelling techniques, and write scientific articles that will form the basis of your dissertation.

You will work closely with your supervisors, another PhD candidate investigating the cognitive neuroscience of curiosity, and a broader interdisciplinary team of researchers in psychology, cognitive neuroscience and educational science. You will also collaborate with schools, teachers and educational organisations to conduct research in real-world learning environments.

The position involves frequent communication with children, parents, teachers, schools and other stakeholders, presenting your work to national and international audiences, and contributing to teaching for approximately 10% of your time.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.

Managementassistent en projectondersteuner

Je beheert de agenda van de divisiedirecteur, plant afspraken en organiseert vergaderingen. Je bereidt agenda’s en vergaderstukken voor, maakt notulen en bewaakt actiepunten en afspraken. Daarnaast verzorg je correspondentie en ondersteun je bij uiteenlopende administratieve en organisatorische werkzaamheden.

Samen met twee collega-managementondersteuners vorm je een hecht team. Je stemt werkzaamheden af, ondersteunt elkaar waar nodig en draagt bij aan een efficiënte samenwerking binnen de divisie. Jij verzorgt de coördinatie van de werkzaamheden.

Naast je werkzaamheden voor de divisiedirecteur biedt je ondersteuning binnen het projectmanagement. Je ondersteunt bij het organiseren van overleggen, de verslaglegging, de projectadministraties en zorgt ervoor dat informatie actueel en goed toegankelijk is. Ook ondersteun je bij administratieve processen, zoals de verwerking van inkopen, facturen en de inhuur van externe medewerkers.

Je werkt samen met project- en programmamanagers, projectondersteuners en het PMO-team. Dankzij jouw organisatietalent, nauwkeurigheid en proactieve houding verlopen processen soepel en kunnen collega’s op je rekenen.

In deze functie ben je zichtbaar aanwezig op kantoor. Je bent een toegankelijk aanspreekpunt voor collega’s en stakeholders, legt gemakkelijk contact en draagt actief bij aan een goede samenwerking binnen de organisatie.

Managementassistent en projectondersteuner

Je beheert de agenda van de divisiedirecteur, plant afspraken en organiseert vergaderingen. Je bereidt agenda’s en vergaderstukken voor, maakt notulen en bewaakt actiepunten en afspraken. Daarnaast verzorg je correspondentie en ondersteun je bij uiteenlopende administratieve en organisatorische werkzaamheden.

Samen met twee collega-managementondersteuners vorm je een hecht team. Je stemt werkzaamheden af, ondersteunt elkaar waar nodig en draagt bij aan een efficiënte samenwerking binnen de divisie. Jij verzorgt de coördinatie van de werkzaamheden.

Naast je werkzaamheden voor de divisiedirecteur biedt je ondersteuning binnen het projectmanagement. Je ondersteunt bij het organiseren van overleggen, de verslaglegging, de projectadministraties en zorgt ervoor dat informatie actueel en goed toegankelijk is. Ook ondersteun je bij administratieve processen, zoals de verwerking van inkopen, facturen en de inhuur van externe medewerkers.

Je werkt samen met project- en programmamanagers, projectondersteuners en het PMO-team. Dankzij jouw organisatietalent, nauwkeurigheid en proactieve houding verlopen processen soepel en kunnen collega’s op je rekenen.

In deze functie ben je zichtbaar aanwezig op kantoor. Je bent een toegankelijk aanspreekpunt voor collega’s en stakeholders, legt gemakkelijk contact en draagt actief bij aan een goede samenwerking binnen de organisatie.