PhD Position (75% TV-L 13) in Cognitive / Experimental Psychology at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

The Cognition and Consumer Behavior Lab at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) seeks applicants for a

PhD Position (75% E 13 TV-L)

To conduct experimental research in the area of judgment and decision making together with Prof. Dr. Benjamin Scheibehenne.

Requirements
Successful candidates are expected to conduct excellent research, publish in international journals, and support the research and teaching activities at the KIT Cognition and Consumer Behavior Lab. A key research focus will be on how numeric cognition influences the perception of risks. The position is particularly interesting for people who enjoy conducting behavioral experiments and who are motivated to develop and test mathematical models of judgment and choice behavior.

Applicants should have a background in Psychology, Cognitive Science, Behavioral Economics, or a related field. Further requirements are excellent oral and written skills in English, solid methodological and statistical knowledge, and a dedication to scientific research. Prior experience with either R, Python, or any other programming language is desirable. For the PhD position, a master’s degree (or an equivalent degree) is a requirement.

Working Conditions
The position has a funding duration of up to 4 years. It provides excellent resources, including a well-equipped behavioral laboratory for conducting experiments, as well as funds for research and conference travel. The lab is part of the KIT Institute of Customer Insights within the Faculty of Economics and Management.

The KIT is one of the leading Universities in Germany and is part of the recent “excellence initiative”. The city of Karlsruhe is a great place to live and work. It is situated in the Rhine valley between France and the Black Forest. The region is known for its pleasant climate and its thriving technology sector. As customary in the German University system, the position comes with a light ‘research oriented’ teaching requirement.

The salary will be based on 75% of the E13 salary band in the German public sector.

Starting Date
The position can start in the Fall of 2026.

Application Details and Deadline
Applications should include a cover letter, CV, copies of university degrees, and a letter of recommendation within one PDF. The letter of recommendation can also be sent separately. In your cover letter, please describe your past research experience. Applications can be submitted directly via email to [email protected] . Please do not add a picture to your application.

All applications submitted before the 31st of July 2026 will receive full consideration.

For further inquiries and questions, don’t hesitate to send an email to [email protected]

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