Postgraduate / PhD / MD research positions Marie Curie Research Initial Training Network (ITN) 'TESIS' TESIS, “Towards an Embodied Science of InterSubjectivity”, is an integrated ITN programme to investigate the foundations of human sociality. It integrates the complementary expertise of 13 European research institutes, clinical centres and private enterprises from the fields of philosophy, cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology and psychiatry/psychosomatics to advance our understanding of human intersubjectivity. Its major goal is to replace the static, individualistic paradigm still dominant in social cognition research with a comprehensive framework for embodied intersubjectivity applicable in the biomedical sciences, the humanities, and society in general. Thus, it intends to show how we become human by embodied interaction with others from the moment of birth. The network is constituted by the following institutions: Universitaetsklinikum Heidelberg Prof. Thomas Fuchs Germany Universidad del Pais Vasco, San Sebastián Prof. Ezequiel Di Paolo Spain Københavns Universitet Prof. Dan Zahavi Denmark Klinikum Rechts der Isar der Technischen Universitaet Muenchen Prof. Peter Henningsen Germany University of Portsmouth Prof. Vasudevi Reddy UK Prof. Alan Costall Universitá degli Studi di Parma Prof. Vittorio Gallese Italy The University of Hertfordshire Prof. Shaun Gallagher Prof. Dan Hutto UK Aarhus Universitet Prof. Andreas Roepstorff Denmark The network also comprises five associated partners: the Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University of Chieti (Italy), the Institute of Simulation and Training, University of Central Florida (USA), Lego Learning Institute (Denmark), the Interactie Academie (Belgium) and Springer Science + Business Media BV (Netherlands). We are now inviting applications for 17 positions from bright, highly motivated graduates coming from neurosciences, neuropsychiatry, philosophy or psychology and interested in empirical and conceptual research in the field: 12 positions for “early stage researchers”, 36 months duration, candidates in possession of a relevant Masters degree (or close to obtaining it) with not more than 4 years of full time research experience, and 5 positions for “experienced researchers” (postdoctoral positions), 21/22 months duration, candidates with 3 to at most 5 years (PhD, including the period of doctoral studies)or 4 to at most 5 years (no PhD) of full time research experience. For all positions prolongations are possible. If you are interested in one of these positions, please send your application – preferably by email – including CV and two references (name, email, phone) before the closing date to the coordinating node: Heribert Sattel, [email protected]­‐heidelberg.de, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Vossstr. 2-­‐4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. Starting date for the positions is between 01.09.2011 and 30.10.2011 Additional information: http://www.TESIS-­‐ITN.eu Prof. Thomas Fuchs Heidelberg Prof. Ezequiel Di Paolo San Sebastián Heribert Sattel Heidelberg In what follows, please find the special descriptions for each of the TESIS nodes.
(1) The TESIS node Heidelberg is the coordinating node of the TESIS network and is represented by the Department of Psychiatry, Section Phenomenology and Psychopathology, Prof. Thomas Fuchs, [email protected]­‐heidelberg. We have two positions available (for philosophers, psychologists or psychiatrists): one for a (pre-­‐doctoral) ”early stage” researcher (36 months duration) and a postdoctoral position for a researcher with 3 to at most 5 years (PhD, including the period of doctoral studies)or 4 to at most 5 years (no PhD) of full time research experience (22 months duration, both positions with possible prolongation). The early stage researcher will carry out an empirical study on self experience, intersubjectivity and psychopathology in autism and schizophrenia, based on a phenome-­‐
nological approach. The study will investigate the effects of movement group therapy on bodily self-­‐experience, interpersonal attunement, coordination and social well-­‐being in both patient groups. The experienced researcher will work on a conceptual comparison of disturbances of the embodied self in autism and schizophrenia. The basic sense of self is intrinsically bound up with the sense of being-­‐with-­‐others and of living with them in a common world. In schizophrenia and autism this embodied involvement in the world seems to be disturbed, resulting in a fundamental alienation of self and intersubjectivity. The project aims to analyze different mechanisms of basic self-­‐disturbances and disturbances of social cognition in both patient groups. The employed fellows will participate actively in an initial training network with expertise in the investigation of intersubjectivity and embodiment. This international network is funded by the European Commission FP7 and provides ideal research and training opportunities during a three year training programme consisting of high impact workshops, summer schools and conferences. We offer rich opportunities to gather manifold conceptual and clinical experiences with patients with schizophrenia or autism in an active, multifaceted interdisciplinary team. If you are interested in one of these positions, please send your application – preferably by email – including CV and two references (name, email, phone) before the closing date to the responsible coordinator: Heribert Sattel, [email protected]­‐heidelberg.de, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Vossstr. 2-­‐4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. Starting date for the “early stage” position is between 01.09.11 and 30.10.11. For the “experienced” position submissions will be accepted until the position is filled. Note: It is preferable but not necessary that candidates have a good command of German. To encourage mobility, successful candidates may have spent at most 12 out of the last 36 months in the host country before appointment. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply. Closing date: May 31, 2011 (2) The TESIS node San Sebastián – represented by the Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science at the University of the Basque Country (UPV) – has positions available for one (pre-­‐doctoral) Early Stage Researcher (ESR) in the area of play and embodiment and one Experienced Researcher (ER, postdoctoral position) in the area of enactive approaches to intersubjectivity. – The ER (3 to at most 5 years (PhD, including the period of doctoral studies) or 4 to at most 5 years (no PhD) of full time research experience will be hired for 22 months (we shall seek opportunities for extending this contract at least up to 2 years). The ER will be expected to work on enactive and embodied approaches to intersubjectivity, focusing on systemic relations between sub-­‐personal, personal and inter-­‐personal phenomena. The ER will also contribute to the integration of the different research strands of the whole network. – The ESR will be hired for 36 months and will be expected to pursue a PhD. Candidates must be in possession of a relevant Masters degree (or close to obtaining it) at the time of appointment. The ESR will engage in a project exploring cognitive, affective and socio-­‐
cultural factors in embodied/enactive approaches to play and joint meaning creation. Both the ER and the ESR should have some relevant experience in one or more of the following areas: embodied approaches to cognition, philosophy of mind, social cognition, phenomenology, enactive theory. In both cases, simulation modelling experience will be desirable. Mobility requirements also apply (see below). The fellows will participate actively in an international Marie Curie Initial Training network with expertise in the investigation of intersubjectivity and embodiment (http://tesis-­‐itn.eu/). This network is funded by the European Commission FP7 and provides ideal research and training opportunities consisting of secondments to other nodes, high impact workshops, summer schools and conferences. If you are interested in one of these positions, please send your application by email including CV, a short statement of research interests, and two references (name, email) before the closing date to Prof Ezequiel Di Paolo, [email protected] (use this contact for informal enquiries). Note: Candidates should have a good command of spoken and written English. Knowledge of Spanish is not a requirement. To encourage mobility, successful candidates may have spent at most 12 out of the last 36 months in the host country before appointment. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply. Closing date: May 31, 2011 (3) The TESIS node Copenhagen -­‐ represented by the Center for Subjectivity Research at the University of Copenhagen, Prof. Dan Zahavi, [email protected] – will focus on questions related to empathy and self-­‐conscious emotions. The Copenhagen node has two positions available, one for an early stage researcher (36 months duration) and one postdoctoral position for an experienced researcher (21 months duration) – the latter position with possible prolongation. The Early Stage Researcher candidate is in possession of a relevant Master’s degree (or close to obtaining it) with not more than 4 years of full time research experience and is expected to work on a project on self-­‐conscious emotions. Questions to be considered are: What is the difference between basic emotions and self-­‐conscious emotions? To what extent is the development of self-­‐conscious emotions influenced by early interaction, joint attention and affect regulation? What can self-­‐conscious emotions tell us about the relation between self and other? The Experienced Researcher candidate with 3 to at most 5 years (PhD, including the period of doctoral studies) or 4 to at most 5 years (no PhD) of full time research experience is expected to work on a project on empathy. Questions to be considered are: What role does empathy play in interpersonal understanding? What is the relation between empathy and bodily expressivity? How might an embodied perspective on intersubjectivity contribute to current debates in social cognition? Documented familiarity with phenomenology, neuroscience, and the contemporary ToM debate will be an advantage. The Center for Subjectivity Research at the University of Copenhagen has an international reputation for its phenomenological research on self and intersubjectivity. The center has for years been working on various projects pertaining to self and other that draw on and combine the resources of phenomenology, philosophy of mind and cognitive science. The employed fellows will participate actively in an initial training network with expertise in the investigation of intersubjectivity and embodiment. This network is funded by the European Commission FP7 and provides ideal research and training opportunities during a three year training programme consisting of high impact workshops, summer schools and conferences. If you are interested in one of these positions, please send your application – preferably by email – including CV and two references (name, email, phone) before the closing date to the responsible coordinator: Heribert Sattel, [email protected]­‐heidelberg.de<mailto:[email protected]­‐
heidelberg.de>, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Vossstr. 2-­‐4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. Note: To encourage mobility, successful candidates may have spent at most 12 out of the last 36 months in the host country before appointment. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply. Closing date: May 31, 2011 for the “early stage” position. For the “experienced” position submissions will be accepted until the position is filled. (4) The TESIS node Munich -­‐ represented by the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine of the Technical University, Prof. Peter Henningsen, [email protected] -­‐ has positions available for two early stage researchers (pre-­‐doctoral) (psychologists or physicians) (36 months duration). Candidates are in possession of a relevant Masters degree (or close to obtaining it) with not more than 4 years of full time research experience. They will investigate clinical mechanisms associated with stressful bodily experiences and will study related innovative treatment approaches. One project will focus on the relationship between interpersonal experiences and pain processing in an innovative experimental paradigm employing hypnotic modulation. The project aims to examine the association between neural generators of functional disorder and the possibility of direct central generation using experimental noxious stimuli. For this position a candidate should have experience of empirical research, and a commitment to conducting functional imaging studies. Common psychosomatic disorders share a variety of psychopathological features which have recently been conceptualized as bodily distress, and therapeutic bodily interaction has high potential in ameliorating the bodily distress component as well as the mental conditions. Project two will investigate body psychotherapy and its effects on depression and somatoform pain, in order to investigate mediators and mechanisms of change. We expect a demonstrable interest in psychotherapy process research. We offer rich opportunities to gather clinical experience with patients with functional somatic syndromes, posttraumatic stress and other psychosomatic disorders in an active, multifaceted department of the University Hospital. The fellows will participate actively in an initial training network with expertise in the investigation of intersubjectivity and embodiment. This international network is funded by the European Commission FP7 and provides ideal research and training opportunities during a three year training programme consisting of high impact workshops, summer schools and conferences. If you are interested in one of these positions, please send your application – preferably by email – including CV and two references (name, email, phone) before the closing date to the responsible node coordinator: Dipl. Psych. Heribert Sattel, [email protected], Department of Psychosomatic, University Hospital “Rechts der Isar”, Technical University Munich, Langerstr. 3, 81675 München, Germany. Note: It is preferable but not necessary that candidates have a good command of German. To encourage mobility, successful candidates may have spent at most 12 out of the last 36 months in the host country before appointment. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply. Closing date: May 31, 2011 (5) The TESIS node Portsmouth -­‐ represented by the Centre for Situated Action and Communication at the University of Portsmouth, Prof. Vasudevi Reddy, Prof. Alan Costall and Dr. Beatriz Lopez – will focus on questions related to the understanding of intentionality in infants and children. The Portsmouth node has two positions available for early stage researchers (36 months duration). Candidates should be in possession of a relevant Masters degree (or close to obtaining it) with not more than 4 years of full time research experience. There are two projects involved in this node, and one early stage researcher will be allocated to each of these. Both the projects have relevance for our understanding of typical development and development in autism. Project One: The Early Stage Researcher is expected to work on a project exploring infant awareness of adult intentional actions. In particular, the research will focus on infants’ embodied and affective responses to gestures which they are likely to experience in everyday interactions with adults. The emphasis will be on the role of engagement and directedness in the developing awareness of intentions in early infancy. Project Two: The Early Stage Researcher is expected to work on a project on young children’s understanding of the intentionality of objects: that objects have intentions and what they are. This project will draw upon Gibson’s concept of affordances and in particular the concept of canonical affordances. The studies in this project will complement and possibly challenge existing experimental research. The Center for Situated Action and Communication at the University of Portsmouth has at its core the investigation of psychological phenomena as processes which take place in, and create, situations (both material and social). Research in the Centre has focused on a variety of domains ranging from early development and autism, and the perceptual control of action to language and discourse. There has been a general emphasis on engagement, embodiment, place and materiality and a challenge to internal mental representational accounts of action and communication. The employed fellows will participate actively in an initial training network with expertise in the investigation of intersubjectivity and embodiment. This international network is funded by the European Commission FP7 and provides ideal research and training opportunities during a three year training programme consisting of high impact workshops, summer schools and conferences. If you are interested in one of these positions, please send your application – preferably by email – including CV and two references (name, email, phone) before the closing date to the responsible coordinator: Heribert Sattel, [email protected]­‐heidelberg.de, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Vossstr. 2-­‐4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. Note: To encourage mobility, successful candidates may have spent at most 12 out of the last 36 months in the host country before appointment. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply. Closing date: May 31, 2011 (6) The TESIS node Parma -­‐ represented by the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Parma, Prof. Vittorio Gallese, [email protected] – will focus on questions related to the development of self-­‐conscious emotions, to disorders involving social cognition in early psychosis, to the role of the goal encoding in the emergence of we-­‐centric space. The Parma node has three positions available, two for early stage researchers (36 months duration) and one postdoctoral position for an experienced researcher (22 months duration). For all positions prolongations are possible. Early stage researcher candidates are in possession of a relevant Masters degree (or close to obtaining it) with not more than 4 years of full time research experience. Experienced researcher candidates have 3 to at most 5 years (PhD, including the period of doctoral studies) or 4 to at most 5 years (no PhD) of full time research experience. One of the Early Stage Researcher is expected to work on a project exploring the development of intersubjectivity and self-­‐conscious emotions from a neurobiological perspective in relationship with interpersonal factors during toddlerhood. This project will be accomplished at the Institute of Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB, Chieti, Italy) in collaboration with the University of Parma. A strong emphasis will be on the application of innovative approaches for the investigation of interactive social situations, allowing ecological experimental contexts that resemble real-­‐life situations. The research methods used in the project will include behavioral studies combined with functional imaging of neural and autonomic activity by means of high sensitivity thermal infrared imaging, high density electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography. The other Early Stage Researcher is expected to work on a project exploring the intersubjective factors affecting psychopathologies, focusing on a group of patients with early psychosis. Questions to be considered are: How is the interpersonal dimension related to the self in psychopathological conditions? Do functional abnormalities of intersubjectivity in schizophrenia specifically concern the intersubjective domain (e.g. vicarious processes) or primarily have their roots in self-­‐disturbances (e.g. coherent and unique sense of self, multisensory integration and differentiation between self and others’ bodily experiences)? Which is the role of the mirror mechanism in the integration of motor and emotional information in healthy controls and first episode psychosis? The research method used in the project will be Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The Experienced Researcher working in Parma is expected to be involved in the investigation of critical factors for the emergence of we-­‐centric space in social interaction. Questions to be considered are: how the emotion expressed by the observed agent facilitates the correct prediction of her motor intention? How the emotional state of the observer (experimental subject) affects the perception of the intentions behind an actor's actions? What is the role of the motor intentionality in the emergence of we-­‐centric space in social interaction? The research method used in the project will be high-­‐density EEG (128 channels). Experience in biological signal analysis, with focus on EEG is requested. Source localization analysis experience and programming skills (Matlab) are welcome. The Department of Neuroscience in Parma has an international reputation for research in neuroscience, including neuroanatomy, cognitive neurophysiology, brain imaging and developmental psychology. The center has for years been working on various projects pertaining to the role of the role of the cortical motor system in fundamental cognitive processes (action recognition, imitation).The employed fellows will participate actively in an initial training network with expertise in the investigation of intersubjectivity and embodiment. This international network is funded by the European Commission FP7 and provides ideal research and training opportunities during a three year training programme consisting of high impact workshops, summer schools and conferences. If you are interested in one of these positions, please send your application – preferably by email – including CV and two references (name, email, phone) before the closing date to the responsible coordinating node: Heribert Sattel, [email protected]­‐heidelberg.de, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Vossstr. 2-­‐4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. Note: To encourage mobility, successful candidates may have spent at most 12 out of the last 36 months in the host country before appointment. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply. Closing date: May 31, 2011 (7) The TESIS node Hertfordshire -­‐ represented by the Department of Philosophy and Cognitive Sciences of the University of Hertfordshire, Prof. Shaun Gallagher [email protected], and Prof. Daniel D. Hutto [email protected] -­‐ has positions available for two early stage researchers (36 months duration). Early stage researcher candidates are in possession of a relevant Masters degree (or close to obtaining it) with not more than 4 years of full time research experience. Position 1 The first project, under the supervision of Shaun Gallagher, is designed to gain theoretical insight and to refine empirical methods for analyzing intersubjective interaction within the structure of institutional practices. Specifically the proposal is (i) to examine theoretical differences between enactive/ embodied approaches and extended/functionalist approaches to social cognition, with special reference to how these differences play out in institutional contexts; (ii) to study, experimentally, using advanced virtual and mixed reality simulations, how work and performance contexts, as defined by physical environment, technology use, and institutional practices, facilitate (or undermine) social interaction. This project will support innovative research that links theories of interactive intersubjectivity to questions about institutional structures. This project involves a partnership with the Cognitive Sciences Program and the Institute for Simulation and Training at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. We encourage candidates with backgrounds in modeling and simulation, as well as studies in philosophy to apply. Position 2 The second project, under the supervision of Daniel D. Hutto, is to explore (i) the theoretical possibility of non-­‐representational ways of understanding early, pre-­‐linguistic forms of pretence and (ii) how socio-­‐cultural practices might influence imaginative play. Research will focus on how these practices could serve as a bridge between embodied intersubjective engagements and the acquisition of narrative-­‐based modes of understanding others. Lines of empirical investigation may include: (1) the course and stages of children’s development; (2) the modes and quality of interaction during their early years as they progress from pretend play to more discursive narrative practices; and (3) the constants and variables of such engagements (e.g. reference to mental state terms by children, caregivers and/or in children’s narratives). The candidate must have a relevant background in philosophy and/or cognitive science. Selected candidates will become Marie Curie fellows. They will sign a full employment contract with their host institution including pension rights, and full security. They will benefit from very competitive salary conditions (in the range of £25,101 -­‐ £29,972) including living, mobility and travel allowance as well as a fixed sum for prospectory career activities. Other advantages include: a career guidance support, attendance to international events such as conferences, workshops and summer schools. Please make your application online at http://www.herts.ac.uk/jobs/ indicating job reference No. 003888 (under Research Vacancies). Applications will be accepted between April 26, 2011 and the closing date May 31, 2011. No applications will be accepted before April 26 or after May 31. Note: Candidates should have a good command of English. To encourage mobility, successful candidates may have spent at most 12 out of the last 36 months in the UK before appointment. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply. Informal inquiries to Professor Shaun Gallagher: [email protected] or Professor Daniel D. Hutto: [email protected] Closing date: May 31, 2011 (7) The TESIS node Aarhus -­‐ represented by the Section for Anthropology and MINDlab, Aarhus University, Prof. Andreas Roepstorff – will focus on questions related to mediated intersubjectivity, shared world-­‐making, and cultural experience. The Aarhus node has two positions available, one for an early stage researcher (36 months duration) and one for an experienced researcher (21 months duration) -­‐ both positions with possible prolongation. The Early Stage Researcher candidate is in possession of a relevant Masters degree (or close to obtaining it) with not more than 4 years of full time research experience and is expected to work on a project on mediated intersubjectivity and shared world-­‐making. Questions to be considered are: How do objects mediate interaction? Are there behavioural, neuronal and/or physiological markers associated with shared world-­‐making? The Experienced Researcher candidate with 3 to at most 5 years (PhD, including the period of doctoral studies) or 4 to at most 5 years (no PhD) of full time research experience is expected to work on a project on collective patterns and cultural experience and to investigate whether joint actions lead to couplings between people. Documented familiarity with experimental design and with analysis of data using dynamical systems approaches will be an advantage. Both the ER and the ESR should have some relevant experience in one or more of the following areas: cognitive psychology, anthropology, semiotics, experimental design and analysis at behavioural and/or neural level. The Aarhus Node is part of national and international research collaborations and training initiatives on the interface of cognitive research, neuroscience and cultural studies, see e.g. www.mindlab.au.dk. The fellows will participate actively in an international Marie Curie Initial Training network with expertise in the investigation of intersubjectivity and embodiment (http://tesis-­‐itn.eu/). This network is funded by the European Commission FP7 and provides ideal research and training opportunities consisting of secondments to other nodes, high impact workshops, summer schools and conferences. Starting date for the “early stage” position is between 01.09.11 and 31.12.11. Starting date for the “experienced” position is between 01.09.11 and 31.12.12. For further information about either position, please contact the node leader, Professor Andreas Roepstorff, [email protected]. If you are interested in one of these positions, please send your application by email including CV, a short statement of research interests, and two references (name, email) before the closing date to the responsible coordinator: Heribert Sattel, [email protected]­‐heidelberg.de, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Vossstr. 2-­‐4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. Note: To encourage mobility, successful candidates may have spent at most 12 out of the last 36 months in the host country before appointment. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply. Closing date: May 31, 2011