This project studies the preparation and execution of bimanual object-manipulation tasks. Given that people generally strive towards comfortable end postures when grasping objects unimanually, how do they plan bimanual object-manipulation tasks? Are the constraints affecting the execution of bimanual movements taken into account, or is it the congruency of anticipated goal-states of two ongoing actions that influences all subsequent processes required to reach these goal-states? The bar-handling paradigm by Rosenbaum et al. (1990) will be used as key methodology in the project, because it provides a high level of control over the macroscopic (decisional) and microscopic (kinematic) task features influencing the coordination of complex bimanual object manipulations. A CD-placement task that has been used in pilot work will serve as the main experimental task. Participants have to pick up a CD and subsequently place it in a CD rack. Task performance is registered by means of video-recording and three dimensional movement recording (Optotrak). The research results will shed light on: (1) the nature of mental representations that affect the preparation of bimanually performed goal-directed actions and the ways in which execution constraints are foreshadowed in the planning of these tasks, and (2) the extent to which movement goals are planned prior to movements to that goal (backward planning), or vice versa (forward planning) during discrete bimanual task performance.

University Graduate
The candidate should have a Master’s degree in human movement science, cognitive or experimental psychology, neuro- or rehabilitation psychology, biophysics, or a related area. He/she should have experience in setting up experimental research in the area of motor control. Further advisables are writing skills, preferably shown by being author/co-author of a published article, and programming skills in Matlab and SPSS. The research should lead to a PhD thesis. Starting date of the project is May 1st 2006.

- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers (Scientific expertise: Behaviour and Society)

Radboud University Nijmegen Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen

Strategically located in Europe, Radboud University Nijmegen is one of the leading academic communities in the Netherlands. A place with a personal touch, where top-flight education and research take place on a beautiful green campus in modern buildings with state-of-art facilities.

The Ph D will be stationed at the Division of Action, Intention and Motor Control (AIM) of the Nijmegen Institute for Cognition and Information (NICI http://www.nici.ru.nl) at Radboud University Nijmegen (RU). The Division's primary interest is gaining fundamental insights into the neurocognitive basis of goal-directed task performance. Sophisticated data-acquisition techniques are used in recording and analysing kinematic, kinetic, and physiological manifestations of such actions. Amongst these are digitizers, 3-D motion tracking systems, and EEG, MEG, and fMRI recording techniques.

Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2000 - 2500

Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2407
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years
Maximum hours per week: 40

Additional conditions of employment:
The candidate will be appointed as Ph D (1.0 fte) for a period of four years. After the first year, the candidate will be evaluated. In case of a positive evaluation, the contract will be prolonged for three years.

Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

dr. Bert Steenbergen
Telephone number: 024-3612642
E-mail address:

dr. Bert Steenbergen
Telephone number: 024-3612642
E-mail address:

 
Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links.

You can apply for this job before 15-03-2006 by sending your application to:

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber 24.01.06.