Two Postdoctoral Researchers: Opportunities and Challenges in Children's Comprehension of Multiple Digital Texts

 Children today consume more digital media than ever before. Does this digitization impact the reading development of our young generation? We are looking for two postdoctoral researchers who can contribute valuable insights to this subject.

As a postdoctoral researcher you will work on the project 'Opportunities and challenges in children's comprehension of multiple digital texts'.Current digitisation has changed the way we consume written text. The project aims to unravel the impact of digitisation on reading development in primary school children. More than ever, readers have to combine information from several digital documents. Yet it is unknown how this impacts comprehension. While it has been argued that comprehension of multiple digital texts (CMDT) may come natural to 'digital natives', concerns have also been raised: digital exposure/overexposure may cause diminishing levels of attention, which is especially problematic in the complex task of CMDT.

Together with two PhD candidates, you will investigate (1) how readers differ in CMDT, (2) how features of digital texts play a role, and (3) how CMDT can best be taught in schools. This will be examined in experimental studies (project 1) and in longitudinal, developmental studies (project 2), which provides input for the development of materials for schools. Subsequent intervention studies (projects 1 and 2) will lead to evidence-based materials.

We ask

• A PhD in Social Sciences.
• Ample experience in quantitative research.
• Outstanding methodological and analytical qualities, and experience of collecting and analysing data.
• Experience of conducting research in primary schools.
• Eye-tracking experience.
• Excellent oral and writing skills in Dutch and English.
• Organisational talent, accompanied by independence and perseverance.
• An independent, flexible and proactive work style, with good collaborative and communication skills.

We are

The  Behavioural Science Institute (BSI) is a multidisciplinary research institute and one of three research institutes within the Faculty of Social Sciences at Radboud University. Our researchers collaborate across the boundaries of psychology, educational science and communication science. Our mission is to strengthen people through understanding the foundations of human behavior, by creating synergy between different paradigms and by facilitating craftsmanship, curiosity and connection in scientific research. We aim at being a key player in understanding and measuring human behaviour by doing fundamental research, and at applying this fundamental knowledge in order to influence behavior. 

BSI has seven research programmes covering three major research themes: 1) development and learning, 2) psychopathology, health and well-being, and 3) social processes and communication. BSI conducts fundamental research as well as applied/translational research.

BSI is a KNAW-acknowledged research school providing excellent research facilities and high-quality training for PhD candidates. It has state-of-the-art research facilities for observational studies, experiments, eye-tracking studies, EEG and other physiological measures, and behavioural measurements in real and 3D virtual environments. The neuroimaging facilities of the Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging (fMRI, MEG and TMS) are available for research on the neural bases of behaviour. For more information, please visit our website.

You will work in BSIs Learning and Plasticity group. The Learning and Plasticity programme deals with microanalysis of learning processes and focuses on learning and development in typical and atypical populations. Intervention studies on individuals with a variety of disorders as well as on those at risk are also conducted to yield a better understanding of the dynamic factors that can prevent or remediate learning problems. The project is conducted in collaboration with Royal Dutch Kentalis.

The Faculty of Social Sciences is one of the largest faculties at Radboud University. The faculty currently employs about 650 employees. The faculty's ambition is to become one of the top social science institutes in Europe, providing high-quality research and study programmes that rank among the best in the Netherlands.

Radboud University

We want to get the best out of science, others and ourselves. Why? Because this is what the world around us desperately needs. Leading research and education make an indispensable contribution to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This is what unites the more than 22,000 students and 5,000 employees at Radboud University. And this requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play!

We offer

• Employment: 0.6 FTE.
• A maximum gross monthly salary of € 5,127 based on a 38-hour working week (salary scale 11).
• The exact salary depends on the candidate's qualifications and amount of relevant professional experience.
• In addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Duration of the contract: 5 years.
• There is the possibility to expand your contract up to 1.0 FTE with teaching.
• The intended start date is 1 September 2021.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment  and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
• Have a look at our excellent  employment conditions. They include a good work-life balance (among other things because of the excellent leave arrangements), opportunities for development and a great pension scheme.

Would you like more information?

For more information about this vacancy, please contact:
Eliane Segers, Professor
Tel.: +31 24 3612822 (secr)
Email: eliane.segers@ru.nl

Apply directly

Please address your application to Eliane Segers and submit it, using the application button, no later than 17 June 2021, 23:59 Amsterdam Time Zone.   

Your application should include the following attachments:

• Letter of motivation.
• CV.
• Recent first-author publication.

The first round of interviews will take place in the last week of June. The second round of interviews will take place in early July.