Apply to Work with Us

Welcome to the Social Brain Lab  

At the Social Brain Lab (SBL), part of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, we delve into the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition and empathy. Led by Valeria Gazzola and Christian Keysers, our lab fosters a collaborative and dynamic environment dedicated to advancing our understanding of the brain. We are always looking for talented and motivated individuals who share our passion for research. 

PhD and Postdoc

 While we deeply value the interest of potential PhD and Postdoc candidates in joining our team, we are currently unable to accept new applications due to financial and space constraints. We hope to welcome new members in the future as resources become available. To see if new PhD and Postdoc vacancies are available Click Here.  

Internships

At SBL, we strive to provide an individualized approach to supervision, dedicated time, and support to each intern. We often receive many requests from brilliant applicants, and will gladly take the time to consider yours. The decision to accept an intern is based on the discretion of individual researchers and the specific needs of their projects at that time. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that you will receive an offer from us.

How to Apply 

To submit an application to the Social Brain Lab, please review the requirements below. For your application request please submit the required materials as a PDF or Word file in English to our lab manager Laura Hammock (l.hammock@nin.knaw.nl). We aim to review your application and get back to you within two weeks. 

Academic Requirements 

Bachelor’s Students

• An overall average Dutch grade of the Bachelor’s study of 7.5 or better (or a GPA equal to this grade).
• The aim to stay in the lab for at least 2 months or more

Master’s Students 

• An overall Dutch grade of the Bachelor’s study of 7.5 or better (or a GPA equal to this grade)
• The overall Dutch grade of Master’s study of 8.0 or better (or equivalent GPA) 
• The aim to stay in the lab for at least 6 month of more

Application Documents 

1. CV / Resume
2. Motivation Letter

Motivation Letter Requirements 

Your motivation letter should address the following points:

1. Research Interest: Could you specify the types of research you are most interested in? For example, are you more inclined towards rodent research or human research? What types of research methods are you looking to learn? Is there a researcher at SBL you would like to work with?
2. Internship Goals: What do you hope to achieve if you were to do an internship with us? What would you hope to learn? 
3. Skills / Previous Experience: Could you elaborate on the skills and experience you would bring to our lab. This information will help the lab assess if your background aligns with any of our ongoing projects. 
4. Logistics: When would you like to start? How long of an internship are you looking for? Are there any requirements you or your academic institution have for an internship?

Any Questions? Contact our lab manager Laura Hammock (l.hammock@nin.knaw.nl)