Scientific research assistant Cognitive Neuropsychology

Tilburg University | Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences is looking for a

Scientific research assistant

Department: Cognitive Neuropsychology On site: Tilburg Contract size: 0.6 fte (24 hours per week) Full-time gross monthly salary: max € 3.369,- Contract duration: 12 months Desired starting date: November 1, 2026

Are you eager to dive into cutting-edge neuromodulation and real-world symptom monitoring?

As a research assistant in our team, you will be running TMS sessions, working with intensive longitudinal data from daily life, and contributing to a new, state-informed approach to brain stimulation. This position offers the unique opportunity to work at the intersection of neuroscience, data science, and clinical research, with room for creativity, technical exploration, and meaningful impact. Here you'll have the chance to help deliver an iTBS protocol targeting the left prefrontal cortex, to model how cognitive fatigue fluctuates from moment to moment, and to explore who responds to stimulation and when. Curious minds are very welcome.

Context

In this project, members of the Cognitive Neuropsychology Department at Tilburg University aim to bridge real-time symptom monitoring in daily life with a pilot neuromodulation design, to better understand when and for whom stimulation may be most effective. By identifying dynamic fatigue profiles in students with elevated fatigue and relating them to short-term response to iTBS, the project lays the groundwork for more personalized, state-informed brain stimulation in clinical populations experiencing "mental fog".

Your position

As a Research Assistant, you will support an ongoing pilot project that combines ecological momentary assessment (EMA) with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), with the broader goal of understanding cognitive fatigue as a dynamic process. Your work will involve a short literature study, hands-on involvement in data collection (EMA via a smartphone app and iTBS sessions in the lab), and initial support of the data analysis. Over time, you'll help document the workflows that link daily-life symptom dynamics to short-term response to stimulation. You'll mainly focus on the data-collection (recruitment, running TMS sessions, monitoring EMA compliance) and later on explore preliminary analyses (processing intensive longitudinal data).

You'll be actively involved in:

• Recruiting and scheduling participants and running EMA and iTBS sessions
• Following predefined TMS procedures (resting motor threshold, Beam F3 localization, delivering the iTBS protocol) under supervision
• Monitoring and managing the EMA data collection and participant compliance
• Contributing to the processing and analysis of intensive longitudinal (EMA) and stimulation data

Summarizing results and documenting workflows, and collaborating with the research team on interim findings and next steps
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This way, you'll have an influence on the direction of the project and the opportunity to apply and further refine valuable skills at the intersection of neuromodulation, data science, and clinical research.

What your typical week might look like:

You'll split your time between the lab and independent work, i.e. running participant sessions (TMS and EMA onboarding), meeting with supervisors to discuss progress and troubleshoot technical or practical challenges, and documenting your workflow and results. Some weeks may be focused on data collection and participant contact, others on managing and interpreting the EMA and stimulation data, or preparing summary reports.

Your profile

You are a motivated recent graduate, with a strong analytical mindset and an interest in neuromodulation, symptom dynamics, and technological innovation in clinical care. We are looking for someone who meets the following criteria:

• You recently completed a bachelor’s or master's degree in (neuro-)psychology, social or biomedical sciences, (bio-)engineering, or a related field.
• You have demonstrable affinity with neuroscience and/or human research (e.g. through coursework, your thesis, internship, or previous research projects).
• You are comfortable working with statistical data analysis software or very motivated to learn new tools (e.g. R, STATA, or alternative coding).
• Scientific and/or practical experience with neuroscientific methods such as neuromodulation (TMS) and/or intensive longitudinal/EMA data is not required but is an asset.
• You are eager to take initiative, enjoy solving methodological and practical challenges.
• You collaborate well but can also work independently when running sessions or exploring analyses.
• You are reliable and comfortable in participant-facing tasks, and you handle sensitive data with care.
• You have sufficient proficiency in English to read scientific literature, communicate in a research context, and document your work clearly; proficiency in Dutch is an asset for participant contact.

Competencies:

• Organizing ability: you can coordinate and keep track of a multimodal data collection (participant scheduling, TMS sessions, and continuous EMA sampling running in parallel), managing the practical logistics.
• Initiative: you take ownership of tasks, identify opportunities for improvement, and follow through independently.
• Accuracy: you pay attention to detail and ensure the quality and traceability of your work.
• Collaboration: you can communicate effectively within a research team and contribute constructively to shared goals.

Our offerTilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• Employment of 0.6 fte(24hours per week), depending om the duration of the contract.
• A salary of €3.369 gross per month for full-time employment, (UFO profile research assistant, salary scale 7 step 2). Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
• This is a vacancy for a position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 1 CLA DU. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 12 months. Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
• Hybrid working with home working allowance (€2 p/day) and internet allowance (€25 p/month). Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
• Options model for additional leave, pension, a bicycle or personal training.
• Pension through ABP.
• Ample training offer: personal development, leadership, education, research or language courses.
• Inclusive work culture: everyone welcome, equal opportunities.
• A green, inviting campus that’s easily accessible by public transport.

For more information, see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities.

Want to know more? Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Charlotte Sleurs at 0032476389401 or c.sleurs@tilburguniversity.edu.

Want to apply? We kindly invite you to apply before September 27,2026; this can only be done online. Address your cover letter to Charlotte Sleurs and attach your resume.

Letter selection is scheduled on 28/09/26; you will receive notification from us shortly thereafter. The first selection interviews will take place on Sep 30th and the second on Oct 6th. The selection committee consists of:

• Charlotte Sleurs, Assistant Professor Dept. Cognitive Neuropsychology
• Dagmar Timmers, PhD, Dept. Cognitive Neuropsychology

You will ideally start working for Tilburg University on 01/11/2026.

About Tilburg University

Tilburg University is the university in the humanities and social sciences. Ever since our foundation in 1927, we have been committed to a just, inclusive, and sustainable society. With leading research and inspiring education, we contribute to the interpretation and, where possible, solutions to current societal issues, from climate change to digitalization

Our community is personal, engaged, and small-scale. On our green, compact, and vibrant campus there is room for encounter, collaboration, reflection, and personal growth. Read more about Tilburg University.

Working at Tilburg University means working in an inclusive team with attractive employment conditions. At Tilburg University, you will receive ample opportunities to strengthen your talents and develop your career, in a warm working atmosphere where we attach great importance to the following values: curious, connected, caring, and courageous.

About the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (TSB)

Our education and research focus on human behavior in a changing society. At the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (TSB), we want to understand how people function as individuals, in relationships, in organizations, and in society. We aim to reinforce adaptability, mental resilience, and a grip on health and well-being.

At TSB, researchers increasingly work in interdisciplinary teams that combine the strengths of all the social science disciplines to answer research questions. They also work with citizens, professionals, policy makers, administrators, and entrepreneurs to study and solve current social problems. Lecturers at TSB contribute to the design and implementation of degree programs in digital social sciences that provide students with the opportunity to take courses from a wide range of disciplines. Read more about the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology

The Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Tilburg University, is concerned with the relationship between brain and behavior. It operates at the crossroads of different psychological disciplines, such as clinical neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience and applied neuroscience. It places a particular emphasis on studying the cognitive effects of brain injury or neurological illness with a view to inferring models of normal cognitive functioning.

Recruitment code

Tilburg University applies the recruitmentcode of the Dutch Association for Personnel Management & Organization Development (NVP).

Disclaimer

The text of this vacancy advertisement is copyright-protected property of Tilburg University. Use, distribution and further disclosure of the advertisement without express permission from Tilburg University is not allowed, and this applies explicitly to use by recruitment and selection agencies which do not act directly on the instructions of Tilburg University. Responses resulting from recruitment by non-contractors of Tilburg Universities will not be handled.