Job opening Postdoc position for the neurocognition of pictures and visual narratives

Tilburg University Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences

is looking for

Postdoc position for the neurocognition of pictures and visual narratives

Department of Communication and Cognition and Visual Language Lab

Location: Tilburg

Contract size: 08 10 fte (32 - 40 hours per week)

Full-time gross monthly salary: 3546 - 5538

Contract duration: 12 36 months

Desired starting date: 1 February 2026

The Visual Language Lab within the Department of Communication and Cognition of the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences at Tilburg University invites applications for a postdoc position in the field of psycholinguistics and cognitive neuroscience. The successful candidate will join a research team with Dr. Neil Cohn on the PICTREE Project funded by the European Research Council (ERC). A postdoc on this project will study how the brain processes individual and/or sequences of images (like in comics) in relation to the structure of languages. Additional information about this research project can be found at position

The PICTREE Project aims to study how the brain processes pictures and sequences of pictures like in comics. These PhD positions will study how sequences of images combine images together into hierarchic relationships which allow for storytelling like comics to have complex sequential relationships. This work will require students to blend linguistic theories and psychological research on visual narrative sequencing and sentence structure particularly syntax. Postdocs will design and carry out cognitive neuroscience (EEG/ERP) experiments examining these issues and will be encouraged to additionally contribute to theory-building. They will also participate in weekly lab meetings and seminars and will assist in teaching courses and advising thesis projects related to their research.

The Visual Language Lab is the research group of Neil Cohn and colleagues within the Department of Communication and Cognition at Tilburg University. We focus on linguistic and cognitive research on language graphics and multimodality especially in comics or emoji and we use multiple methods of research including theoretical experimental and corpus analyses. We try to cultivate a positive atmosphere where all lab members feel part of a diverse and inclusive team environment that includes professors postdocs PhDs and masters and bachelors students. We also have a worldwide network of international collaborators and often have visiting scholars spend extended time in our lab at Tilburg. PhD students will be expected to become active members of our local and international scholarly community and aim to become leaders in this emerging field of research. Additional information can be found at .

Your profile

• PhD degree in psychology linguistics cognitive neuroscience cognitive science and/or a related field.

• Motivated to carry out cutting-edge research
• An accessible attitude can function well in a team and can establish and maintain interpersonal relations with excellent communication skills in English.
• Ability to take initiative be organized be flexible and work independently
• An interest in comics drawing language linguistics (particularly syntax/grammar and semantics) and (neuro)cognition.
• Previous experience running experiments with language pictures and/or comics examining behavioral cognitive processing and/or event-related potentials (EEG/ERP) is a plus.

Our offer

Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• A position based on 08 10 fte (40 hours per week).
• Salary between 3546 and 5538 gross per month for full-time employment (UFO-profile Researcher 4 salary scale 10). Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
• This is a vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 5 CLA DU. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 12 months with a possible extension of 36 months.
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
• The opportunity to work partly on campus and partly from home with a home office allowance of 2 per day.
• Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking cycling and public transport.
• A monthly internet allowance of 25.
• An options model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave more pension a bicycle or personal training at our Sports Center.
• A moving allowance (subject to conditions).
• Employees from abroad may be eligible for a tax-free allowance for extraterritorial expenses equal to 30% of taxable salary.
• A pension with ABP; the largest Dutch pension fund.
• Training in personal development career development leadership education and research. Or a language course at our Language Center.
• A work culture in which we embrace differences everyone is welcome and given equal opportunities.
• A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport.

For more information see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities.

Information and application

Would you like to know more before applying Feel free to contact Neil Cohn at

We kindly invite you to apply before 27 October 2025; this can only be done online. Address your cover letter to Neil Cohn and include:

• A complete CV including listing of publications and theses (created drawings/comics also welcomed).
• Cover letter (maximum one page) explaining your interest in this project.
• Contact details of two references.
• Copy of one publication thesis or essay as a writing sample preferably of a related topic.

Letter selection is scheduled on 30 October;you will receive notification from us shortly thereafter. The selection interviews will take place in the first weeks of November.

The selection committee consists of:

1. Neil Cohn Associate Professor
2. Tessa van Leeuwen Associate Professor
3. Joost Schilperoord Assistant Professor (retired)

You will ideally start working for Tilburg University on 1 February 2026.

This vacancy has been published simultaneously internally and case of equal suitability our preference is for an internal candidate.

About Tilburg University

Tilburg University is an academic inclusive and engaged community. Together with nearly 3000 employees we are committed to broad prosperity sustainably and inclusion. For current and future generations. We develop and share knowledge for the requirements of people and our society. This is how we contribute to solving complex social issues and help society move forward.

We educate our 19500 students of 110 nationalities to become responsible leaders with knowledge skills and character. With our education and research for broad prosperity we exceedingly focus on themes such as mental and preventive care an inclusive labor market the energy transition and digitalization.

About the Department of Communication and Cognition

The Department of Communication and Cognition (DCC) studies cognitive and social aspects of human communication through a multidisciplinary approach combining careful experimentation with survey methods corpus analyses and computational modeling. We consist of about 70 researchers covering a broad range of topics relevant for cognition and communication and this includes approximately 25 PhD students. Core research domains include communication and technology cross-cultural communication information visualisation marketing and business communication language production and non-verbal communication.

Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences

Research and education at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) has a unique focus on humans in the context of the globalizing digital society on the development of artificial intelligence and interactive technologies on their impact on communication culture and society and on moral and existential challenges that arise. The School of Humanities and Digital Sciences consists of four departments: Communication and Cognition Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence Culture Studies and Philosophy; several research institutes and a faculty office. Also the University College Tilburg is part of the School. Each year around 275 students commence a Bachelor or (Pre) Master Program. The School has approximately 2000 students and 250 employees.

Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences

Recruitment code

Tilburg University applies therecruitmentcode of the Dutch Association for Personnel Management & Organization Development (NVP).

Disclaimer

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