About us:

The Institute of Medical Psychology (IMP) is a research and teaching institute that provides educational support for preclinical students in Human Medicine and is actively involved in mentoring doctoral candidates and postgraduates. In addition to chronobiology, our scientific focus is on fundamental research in neuropsychobiology and behavioral medicine, particularly regarding learning and memory processes and information processing in the brain. Our main areas of research include pain, addiction, psychotraumatology, and lifespan studies (longitudinal cohort studies). Furthermore, we work with digital data collection methods, including smartphone and tablet-based apps and virtual reality. Another key focus of our work is integrating scientific findings into the development and empirical evaluation of behavioral medicine-based prevention and rehabilitation programs for various psychological, somatic, and neurological conditions.

We are looking for you:

GRK LokoAssist: Doctoral student for area C.2 (m/f/x)

in Munich and Mannheim

Your tasks and responsibilities:

The C.2 part of GRK LokoAssist captures the integration of potential users into the development of systems that are built for the assistance of movements as well as for a targeted limitation of movements.

This includes the investigation of different movement simulations and their consequences for biomechanical, neuromuscular triggered and individual movement behaviour, perception and sensation as well as the development of respective methods using state-of-the-art technologies like virtual reality and eye­ tracking.

Your qualifications:

• Excellent Master in psychology, (cognitive) neuroscience (obtained at the application date) or another natural science
• Knowledge and interest in experimental psychology and neuroscience; solid background in programming skills and interest in psychophysiological and computer generated methods
• Knowledge of statistics and familiarisation with statistical databases (e.g. SPSS, SAS, R) and complex data analytics will be valued
• Very good English language skills

Benefits:

You can expect a cooperative, diverse, interesting, and responsible environment within a dedicated, interdisciplinary team, along with a role that offers excellent opportunities for further training and development.

We offer an exciting opportunity to join the LokoAssist Graduate Research Training Program (GRK) as a Research Associate, focusing on innovative research in the field of assistive technologies for people with motor impairments. LokoAssist is an interdisciplinary research project dedicated to developing assistive systems that promote mobility and independence for individuals with motor control limitations. The goal is to create innovative technologies that enhance the quality of life and mobility for affected individuals.

As a Research Associate in the GRK LokoAssist program, you will work within a dynamic and highly motivated team focused on the research and development of cutting-edge assistive systems. You will collaborate closely with experts from fields such as engineering, computer science, media technology, and rehabilitation, contributing to a pioneering and interdisciplinary research landscape.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge in areas such as user-centered system development, robotics, and adaptive technologies, while actively contributing to the advancement of assistive solutions tailored to the needs of people with physical impairments.

Location Notice: Please note that the primary work location for this position will be Mannheim (Central Institute of Mental Health), not Munich, due to the specific structure and collaboration setup of the GRK program. While the project involves collaboration with multiple institutions, the core activities and research associated with the LokoAssist program will take place at our Mannheim-based facilities. Therefore, candidates should be prepared to work primarily from this location.

The position is initially limited to two years but may be extended to three years, subject to a positive evaluation by the DFG. The salary will be in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement, based on salary group 13 TV-L.

Also possible in a part-time capacity.

Contact:

Please send your comprehensive application documents, preferably by email (as a PDF) latest until 31.07.2025 an: IMP.Bewerbungen@med.uni-muenchen.de

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Institut für Medizinische Psychologie
Goethestraße 31
80336 München

For any inquiries, please feel free to contact Ms. Susanne Ballenweg (Secretary) at susanne.ballenweg@med.uni-muenchen.de.

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