The TESIS node Munich - represented by the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine of the Technical University, Prof. Peter Henningsen, p.henningsen@tum.de - has positions available for two early stage researchers (pre-doctoral) (psychologists or physicians) (36 months duration). Candidates are in possession of a relevant Masters degree (or close to obtaining it) with not more than 4 years of full time research experience. They will investigate clinical mechanisms associated with stressful bodily experiences and will study related innovative treatment approaches.

One project will focus on the relationship between interpersonal experiences and pain processing in an innovative experimental paradigm employing hypnotic modulation. The project aims to examine the association between neural generators of functional disorder and the possibility of direct central generation using experimental noxious stimuli. For this position a candidate should have experience of empirical research, and a commitment to conducting functional imaging studies.

Common psychosomatic disorders share a variety of psychopathological features which have recently been conceptualized as bodily distress, and therapeutic bodily interaction has high potential in ameliorating the bodily distress component as well as the mental conditions. Project two will investigate body psychotherapy and its effects on depression and somatoform pain, in order to investigate mediators and mechanisms of change. We expect a demonstrable interest in psychotherapy process research.

We offer rich opportunities to gather clinical experience with patients with functional somatic syndromes, posttraumatic stress and other psychosomatic disorders in an active, multifaceted department of the University Hospital. The fellows will participate actively in an initial training network with expertise in the investigation of intersubjectivity and embodiment. This international network is funded by the European Commission FP7 and provides ideal research and training opportunities during a three year training programme consisting of high impact workshops, summer schools and conferences.

If you are interested in one of these positions, please send your application - preferably by email - including CV and two references (name, email, phone) before the closing date to the responsible node coordinator:

Dipl. Psych. Heribert Sattel, h.sattel@tum.de, Department of Psychosomatic, University Hospital "Rechts der Isar", Technical University Munich, Langerstr. 3, 81675 München, Germany.

Note: It is preferable but not necessary that candidates have a good command of German. To encourage mobility, successful candidates may have spent at most 12 out of the last 36 months in the host country before appointment. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply.

Closing date: May 31, 2011