PhD Position in Developmental Psychology (75%) – Starting January 1, 2027
TU Dortmund University is a dynamic research-oriented university with 17 departments in the natural and engineering sciences as well as social and cultural sciences. On our international campus, around 6,700 employees make a daily contribution to solving pressing questions of the present and the future. Openness and diversity characterize not only the collaboration in research and teaching, but also in technology and administration.
The Chair of Developmental Psychology at TU Dortmund University invites applications for a position as a research associate (m/f/x) within a research project on the development of episodic memory in early childhood. The position (75%, E13 TV-L) is a fixed-term employment until December 31, 2030. Employment is subject to final approval and funding by the third -party funding provider.
The project is embedded in a Collaborative Research Centre (CRC). The CRC “Episodic Memory” is an interdisciplinary consortium consisting of researchers from psychology, computational neuroscience, philosophy and neuroscience. The basis for our research is the Scenario Construction Framework which conceptualizes scenarios as mental simulations of past episodes, constructed from episodic memory traces and semantic information. As a part of this team, you will be trained in interdisciplinary research and have access to a broad spectrum of initiatives to support you in your academic journey.
The study will be conducted in close cooperation at two locations: Bochum and Dortmund. The successful candidate will contribute to the planning, execution, analysis, and publication of a longitudinal study involving children aged 3 to 5 years at the research site in Dortmund. Additionally, the position involves interdisciplinary collaboration with the Institute for Neuroinformatics at Ruhr University Bochum to analyze memory processes using computational models.
The position offers the opportunity for scientific qualification through a cumulative PhD.
Your responsibilities
- Design, implementation, analysis, and publication of studies on the development of episodic memory in early childhood
- (Co-)supervision of student assistants and research students
- Proactive interdisciplinary collaboration and exchange within and beyond the CRC throughout the research process
- Presentation of study results at internal and external events and scientific conferences
- Regular contribution to public relations and science communication
Your profile
Required:
- A Master’s degree in Psychology or a closely related field
- A strong interest in developmental psychology research on memory and enthusiasm for scientific work
- A highly motivated team player who enjoys collaborating with researchers from various disciplines, particularly in the areas of modeling, philosophy, and neuroscience
- Proactive problem-solver in daily work
- Enjoyment of interacting with parents and children in a research context
- Fluent proficiency in German and English (written and spoken)
- Excellent methodological, programming, and statistical skills
Desired:
- Practical experience working with infants and young children in a research context
- Prior experience in interdisciplinary research settings
What we offer
- A stimulating research environment
- Opportunities for collaboration with researchers from various disciplines
- Challenging and varied tasks with a high degree of autonomy
- Cooperative work in an engaged, international and collegial team
- Opportunities for science communication
- The possibility for scientific qualification through a cumulative PhD
Additional information
Employment will be based on a fixed-term contract according to the collective agreement for the public sector in Germany (TV -L). Remuneration will be in accordance with pay scale E13 TV-L, subject to personal and collective bargaining requirements.
Further information can be found at https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/
We promote diversity and equal opportunities. Convince us with your personality and expertise. TU Dortmund University aims at increasing the percentage of women in science and therefore encourages women to apply.
We also underline that the applicat ion of suitable persons with disabilities are explicitly weclome.
Application
Applications, including a curriculum vitae, copies of degree certificates as well as name and contact details of references, may be sent to
If you are interested, please submit your application with supporting documents by October 27th, 2026 under reference number w55-26:
TU Dortmund University, Chair of Developmental Psychology,
Norbert Zmyj, Emil-Figge-Straße 50, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
For questions, please contact: Prof. Dr. Norbert Zmyj
Phone: +49 231 755 6571, email: [email protected]