Postdoc Position: Cosmic Ray Detection at the Square Kilometre Array

You will be part of a dynamic, internationally connected team at Radboud University in Nijmegen (Netherlands), embedded within the SKA High Energy Cosmic Particles Science Working Group and collaborating with leading institutions across Europe and Australia. The work spans the full arc of experimental physics: from instrument commissioning and calibration to data analysis, with direct implications for our understanding of the most extreme astrophysical environments in the universe.

As the first postdoctoral researcher on the ERC funded SKA-CR project, you will take a leading role in designing particle detectors that will be installed at the SKA to facilitate cosmic ray detection. You will lead a feasibility study investigating whether the detectors can be used to distinguish between muons and electrons in cosmic-ray air showers, a capability critical to constraining hadronic interaction models that are currently one of the major sources of uncertainty in the field. Using Geant4 and CORSIKA simulations, you will characterise the signals produced by each particle type in the scintillator detectors and assess whether the high-frequency SKA electronics (sampling at 800 MSPS) can preserve enough information to enable this novel separation technique. The outcome of this study will directly determine the design path for the particle detector upgrade, and you will work with the PI and a dedicated technician to implement the chosen solution before detector deployment.

You will also have an opportunity to contribute to the development of the SKA radio data pipeline for cosmic-ray detection, building on established techniques from the LOFAR cosmic-ray programme and the open-source NuRadioReco framework. The pipeline you develop will be the backbone of all subsequent scientific analyses on the project, and you will supervise and mentor a PhD candidate working alongside you on complementary aspects of this effort. This is a uniquely broad role that combines software development, detector physics and observatory coordination, and you will be expected to present results regularly at major international conferences and contribute to high-profile publications.

Postdoc Position: Cosmic Ray Detection at the Square Kilometre Array

You will be part of a dynamic, internationally connected team at Radboud University in Nijmegen (Netherlands), embedded within the SKA High Energy Cosmic Particles Science Working Group and collaborating with leading institutions across Europe and Australia. The work spans the full arc of experimental physics: from instrument commissioning and calibration to data analysis, with direct implications for our understanding of the most extreme astrophysical environments in the universe.

As the first postdoctoral researcher on the ERC funded SKA-CR project, you will take a leading role in designing particle detectors that will be installed at the SKA to facilitate cosmic ray detection. You will lead a feasibility study investigating whether the detectors can be used to distinguish between muons and electrons in cosmic-ray air showers, a capability critical to constraining hadronic interaction models that are currently one of the major sources of uncertainty in the field. Using Geant4 and CORSIKA simulations, you will characterise the signals produced by each particle type in the scintillator detectors and assess whether the high-frequency SKA electronics (sampling at 800 MSPS) can preserve enough information to enable this novel separation technique. The outcome of this study will directly determine the design path for the particle detector upgrade, and you will work with the PI and a dedicated technician to implement the chosen solution before detector deployment.

You will also have an opportunity to contribute to the development of the SKA radio data pipeline for cosmic-ray detection, building on established techniques from the LOFAR cosmic-ray programme and the open-source NuRadioReco framework. The pipeline you develop will be the backbone of all subsequent scientific analyses on the project, and you will supervise and mentor a PhD candidate working alongside you on complementary aspects of this effort. This is a uniquely broad role that combines software development, detector physics and observatory coordination, and you will be expected to present results regularly at major international conferences and contribute to high-profile publications.

Postdoc Position: Cosmic Ray Detection at the Square Kilometre Array

You will be part of a dynamic, internationally connected team at Radboud University in Nijmegen (Netherlands), embedded within the SKA High Energy Cosmic Particles Science Working Group and collaborating with leading institutions across Europe and Australia. The work spans the full arc of experimental physics: from instrument commissioning and calibration to data analysis, with direct implications for our understanding of the most extreme astrophysical environments in the universe.

As the first postdoctoral researcher on the ERC funded SKA-CR project, you will take a leading role in designing particle detectors that will be installed at the SKA to facilitate cosmic ray detection. You will lead a feasibility study investigating whether the detectors can be used to distinguish between muons and electrons in cosmic-ray air showers, a capability critical to constraining hadronic interaction models that are currently one of the major sources of uncertainty in the field. Using Geant4 and CORSIKA simulations, you will characterise the signals produced by each particle type in the scintillator detectors and assess whether the high-frequency SKA electronics (sampling at 800 MSPS) can preserve enough information to enable this novel separation technique. The outcome of this study will directly determine the design path for the particle detector upgrade, and you will work with the PI and a dedicated technician to implement the chosen solution before detector deployment.

You will also have an opportunity to contribute to the development of the SKA radio data pipeline for cosmic-ray detection, building on established techniques from the LOFAR cosmic-ray programme and the open-source NuRadioReco framework. The pipeline you develop will be the backbone of all subsequent scientific analyses on the project, and you will supervise and mentor a PhD candidate working alongside you on complementary aspects of this effort. This is a uniquely broad role that combines software development, detector physics and observatory coordination, and you will be expected to present results regularly at major international conferences and contribute to high-profile publications.

PhD Position: Computational Affective Neuroscience and Ultrasound Neuromodulation

Why do some people remain calm and make flexible decisions under stress, while others freeze or flee? HEART2ADAPT aims to answer this question. We are developing a new model to understand how heart – brain interactions shape decision making under threat and support adaptation in dynamic environments.

Using state-of-the-art methods to track brain and bodily signals, we will investigate how stress influences decision-making in healthy participants and in patients with anxiety disorders. A key component of this PhD project is testing causal mechanisms using ultrasonic neuromodulation, a novel technique to non-invasively reach deep brain targets that we will combine with behavioral and fMRI measurements.

Funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant, HEART2ADAPT offers you the opportunity to contribute to protocol development, data collection and computational modelling of behavioural and neural data. You will apply ultrasound stimulation to key nodes of our model, including the amygdala, ventral striatum and dorsal ACC.

You will work closely with colleagues at the Donders Institute (including the Verhagen lab) and the Behavioural Science Institute, as well as with international collaborators. Responsibilities may also include mentoring of BSc and MSc students.

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.

Postdoc Position: Affective Neuroscience Lab

We seek a motivated postdoctoral researcher who likes to take on managerial and supervisory tasks in the affective neuroscience lab lead by Prof. Karin Roelofs. You will co-supervise PhD and Master’s students and help manage a large ERC-funded team within the lab. In addition, you will have the opportunity to conduct your own research.

In the lab we are interested in studying heart-brain interactions during decision-making under threat. Using cutting-edge tools to track brain and body activity in real time – think heart rate, posture and advanced neuroimaging – we explore how stress affects decision-making. An important aspect of our research is to test causal mechanisms through neuromodulation, specifically transcranial ultrasound stimulation.

We seek an all-round postdoctoral researcher who is interested in gaining experience guiding large research projects and able to assist in at least one of the following domains: transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS), (f)MRI, MEG, psychophysiology, or computational modelling of behaviour. Depending on your interests and capacities, you can contribute to our TUS studies or to the modelling of behavioural, psychophysiological or neural data. You will also assist in medical ethical applications and reporting to the ERC.

You will collaborate closely with colleagues at the Donders Institute and the Behavioural Science Institute as well as international partners.