Doctoral Researcher (75% TV-G-U) in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

The Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main is one of the largest universities in Germany with around 41,000 students and with about 5,800 employees. Founded in 1914 by Frankfurt citizens and since 2008 once again proud of its foundation status Goethe University possesses a high degree of autonomy, modernity and professional diversity. As a comprehensive university, the Goethe University offers a total of 16 departments on five campuses and 155 degree programs along with an outstanding research reputation. Furthermore, the Goethe University is part of the Group of Rhine-Main-Universities (RMU).

The Faculty of Psychology and Sports Sciences of Goethe University, at the Chair of Developmental Psychology (led by Prof. Dr. Yee Lee Shing) is offering a position of

Predoctoral researcher (m/f/d)

(E 13 TV-G-U, 75% part-time)

starting 01.07.2026 for a duration of four years (pending on approval of grant application). The salary grade is based on the job characteristics of the collective agreement applicable to Goethe University (TV-G-U).

The successful candidate will conduct research in the context of the project “Consolidating new schema and specific memories: Developmental patterns, effects of early life stress, and enhancement by targeted memory reactivation” that aims to examine the development of long-term memory consolidation in children using experimental and (f)MRI methods. The project is funded (if positively voted) by the DFG Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1315 “Mechanisms and disturbances in memory consolidation: From synapses to systems”. She*he will take lead on setting up the experimental paradigm, collecting and analyzing data, as well as writing up scientific manuscripts for publication. In addition to these core tasks , she*he will have the opportunity to contribute to supervising thesis work (Bachelor/Master) and further research within the department.

The successful candidate will be a member of the Lifespan Cognitive and Brain Development (LISCO) lab that has an international team (see . The project is a collaboration with Prof. Dr. Claudia Buss at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Dr. Zoe Ngo at Max Planck Institute for Human Development. The successful candidate is also expected to be an integrated member of the CRC.

Applicants must have a master in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, or related disciplines, with good knowledge (ideally also experience) for neuroimaging techniques. Programming skills (e.g., Matlab, Unix, Python, R) are highly desirable. Applicants should have excellent organizational and teamwork skills, be highly motivated for research, and be able to communicate effectively in English (including writing ability).

Goethe University is committed to equal opportunity, family friendliness, and diversity. To strengthen the diversity of perspectives and lived experiences within the university, applications from individuals with a migration background and from members of other groups that have so far been underrepresented are particularly welcome. Applicants with a severe disability, or those legally equivalent, will be given preferential consideration in cases of equal suitability. If women are underrepresented in a faculty or administrative unit, they will be given preferential consideration in cases of equal qualifications.

Please send your electronic application (as a single PDF file), comprised of cover letter (a general statement detailing your motivation for the position, one page, 12-pt type, single-spaced), CV, copy of formal certificates, a sample of your writing (thesis, preprint, manuscript, or publication), and the names of two potential referees to Prof. Dr. Yee Lee Shing ( [email protected] ), latest by 30.04.2026 .

Please note that the application documents will not be returned. Costs incurred during the application process will not be reimbursed by Goethe University.