3+1 Year PhD Position in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Barcelona, Spain

Summary

The Brainlab – Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group at the University of Barcelona is seeking applications for a 3+1 year fully funded PhD position starting in Spring 2027. The selected candidate will join the project “Interindividual variability in the Sense of Agency: contributing factors, underlying neurobiology, and measurement tools (VariSoA)”, funded via the Spanish FPI program. The research will combine motor-sensory interactions, EEG, neurogenetics, and non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to investigate human agency.

3+1 Year PhD Position in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Barcelona, Spain

Designation

• Position Title: PhD Researcher / Doctoral Candidate
• Duration: 3 + 1 Year Fully Funded Contract
• Funding Program: Spanish FPI Program

Position Overview

Research Area

• Field: Cognitive Neuroscience, Sensorimotor Processing, Neurogenetics, Brain Stimulation
• Project Title: Interindividual variability in the Sense of Agency: contributing factors, underlying neurobiology, and measurement tools (VariSoA)

Location

• Address: Brainlab, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
• Academic Enrolment: PhD Programme in Biomedicine (Neurosciences) or PhD Programme in Brain, Cognition and Behaviour at the University of Barcelona.

Eligibility / Qualification

• Citizenship: Must hold EU citizenship.
• Academic Credentials: Completed at least 300 ECTS credits, including a Master’s degree (minimum 60 ECTS at Master’s level) with an outstanding academic record.
• Eligible Academic Backgrounds:
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Computer Science
  • Medicine
  • Biology
  • Engineering
  • Physics
• Technical Skills: Experience with programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python, or R).
• Desirable Experience: Hands-on experience with EEG and/or non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques is considered a strong advantage.

Job Description

The successful candidate will contribute to the VariSoA project, which investigates the mechanisms underlying individual differences in the sense of agency (SoA)—the experience of controlling one’s own actions and their consequences.

Key Objectives & Responsibilities:

• Quantify how sensorimotor expertise and individual traits shape SoA.
• Investigate genetic and epigenetic factors contributing to interindividual variability.
• Identify latent components of SoA and their neural substrates using non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS).
• Test the transferability of SoA assessment paradigms across individuals.
• Explore biological and neural markers predicting NIBS responsiveness for potential clinical applications.
• Help build a validated, multi-modal assessment tool for human sense of agency.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should prepare the following application materials:

1. Motivation Letter
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. Official Transcript of Academic Records (in ECTS format)
4. Recommendation Letters (Optional, but encouraged)

Send the application package via email directly to isanmiguel@ub.edu with the subject line:

PhD VariSoA position

Last Date for Apply / Timeline

• Pre-selection Phase: September – October 2026 (Submit applications early during this window)
• Official FPI Call Opening: Expected during November – December 2026

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