Postdoc at Center for Music in the Brain

Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine at Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as Postdoc in the field of Neuroscience as per 1 October 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for 2 years.

The Danish National Research Foundation’s Center for Music in the Brain is an interdisciplinary research center at Aarhus University and the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark (RAMA) aiming to address the dual questions of how music is processed in the brain and how this can inform our understanding of fundamental principles behind brain functioning in general. With a strong foundation in music practice and theory at the highest level and a focus on the clinical application of music, MIB combines neuroscientific, musicological and psychological research in music perception, action, emotion and learning with the potential to test prominent theories of brain function and to influence the way we play, teach, use and listen to music.

About the research project

The project looks into interpersonal coordination investigating how groups' coordination dynamics are influ-enced by social identity and group affiliations, both behaviourally and neurally.

Your job responsibilities

As Postdoc in Neuroscience your position is primarily research-based assignments. You will contribute to the development of the Center through research of high international quality. In your daily work, you will work closely with colleagues on your project, where you will receive supervision and guidance.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Independent research of high international quality, including publication.
• Guidance and supervision of Bachelor’s and Master's degree students, as well as supervision of PhD students.
• Some degree of contribution towards attracting external research funding.
• The opportunity to collaborate with relevant national and international research environments.

You will report to the Director of Center for Music in the Brain.

Your competences

You have academic qualifications at PhD level, for example within the following areas of neuroscience, engineering, mathematics, medicine, psychology, music, or other relevant education.

You have independent research-related qualifications at a high international level. You are a clear communicator, and you have some degree of experience of supervision at Bachelor’s and Master's degree level.

We expect you to have experience with human electrophysiology (i.e. MEG and EEG, in particular hyper scanning), expertise in advanced statistical analysis of neuroimaging data and experience with computer programming, in particular Matlab.

You have a strong interest in music. You have good interpersonal skills, are friendly, helpful, and able to contribute to a good work environment.

We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English.

In order to be assessed as qualified for a Postdoc position, you must meet these academic criteria.

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Director of Center for Music in the Brain, Peter Vuust.: (+45) 2711 9471.

Your place of work will be the Department of Center for Music in the Brain at Department of Clinical Medicine, Universitetsbyen 3, building 1710, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

About MIB

MIB is headed by Professor Peter Vuust and the center is organized around four research topics:

• Predictive Coding of Music, led by Peter Vuust (PI, Director)
• Multimodal Theme, led by Boris Kleber
• Music Interactions, led by Peter Keller
• Meaning of Music, led by Elvira Brattico (PI) and Morten Kringelbach (PI)

The research in the center is based on the predictive coding of music hypothesis proposing that music reflects fundamental brain mechanisms associated with prediction. This hypothesis offers a fresh perspective on how specialized brain networks can identify and categorize causes of sensory inputs, integrate information with other networks, and adapt to new stimuli. It proposes that perception and learning occurs in a recursive Bayesian process by which the brain tries to minimize the error between the input and the brain’s expectation. In particular, MIB focuses on how music is involved in establishing, maintaining and fine-tuning meaningful human relationships and interactions. 

MIB is situated in the Danish Neuroscience Center at Health, AU allowing interactions with clinicians, medical scientists and patient groups. This gives access to MINDLab Core Experimental Facility with an impressive infrastructure providing an array of state-of-the-art technologies (PET, MRI, fMRI, MEG, EEG, tDCS, and TMS), and extensive support. MIB is also affiliated with RAMA’s music teaching programs of the highest national and international levels, training students as professional musicians and high-level music teachers.

Read more about MIB at www.musicinthebrain.au.dk

About Department of Clinical Medicine

As a postdoc at the Department of Clinical Medicine, you will be part of what is probably the largest health science research department in Denmark. Our clinical research covers all the medical specialities and takes place in close collaboration with the university hospital and the regional hospitals in the Central Denmark Region. We have approx. 30,000 square metres of modern research facilities for experimental surgery and medicine, animal facilities and also advanced scanners at our disposal. The department has overall responsibility for the Master's degree programs in medicine and in molecular medicine. At the department we are approx. 670 academic employees, 500 PhD students and 160 technical/administrative employees who are cooperating across disciplines. You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here.

Terms of employment

• Appointment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.
• Further information on the appointment procedure can be found in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
• The appointment is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• Remuneration is in accordance with the above, and the Salary agreement catalogue for staff at Health.
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime postdoc is between DKK 484.214,84 and DKK 538.720,20 depending on the years of working experience after achieved MSc degree. The base salary includes a position related supplement and pension (17.1 %). Additional supplement(s) for special qualifications can be negotiated. Authorisation supplemement(s) will be granted, if relevant for the position. Your local eligible trade union representative at Aarhus University negotiates your salary on your behalf.
• Researchers recruited from abroad are offered a special researcher tax scheme with a lower tax rate.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job description can be found in the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff

Application

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diploma
• Template for applicant - postdoc
• A list of publications
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• A maximum of five of the publications of greatest relevance to the job may be submitted (optional)
• Research plan can be uploaded (optional)
• Coauthor statement(s) can be uploaded (optional)
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the e-recruitment system (optional)

We refer to the faculty’s Guidelines for applicants.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

International applicant?

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including assistance with relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about the International Staff Office and the range of services here. Aarhus University also has a Junior Researcher Association and offers career development support. You can read more about these resources here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/