Last application date Aug 15, 2025 00:00
Department PP07 - Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology
Contract Limited duration
Degree - A Master’s degree in Psychology or a related discipline, potentially complemented by a degree in Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, with clear potential to develop into a talented researcher
Occupancy rate 100%
Vacancy type Research staff
Job description
ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY
Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.
With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
At Ghent University, within the Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, we are looking for a full-time PhD student to work on the FWO Odysseus project "Emerging Adulthood: The Time of Your Life?". This project focuses on the development and evaluation of VR-based interventions targeting emotion regulation and identity.
Emerging adulthood is a transitional period between adolescence and adulthood, characterized by the ongoing development of identity and personal values. It is also a phase marked by unique challenges—successfully navigated by many, though not by all. This variability may, in part, be explained by difficulties in emotion regulation, defined as the set of processes involved in adjusting the duration, intensity, onset, and recovery of current or anticipated emotional experiences.
One of the key objectives of the Odysseus project is to strengthen emotion regulation skills and identity through virtual reality (VR) interventions.
We are currently looking for a PhD student to join our team (https://fsppd.be/onderzoeksteam) and contribute to the evaluation of the effectiveness of our VR interventions. The doctoral project has four main objectives:
1. To examine the validity of an existing VR-based intervention through feasibility pilots.
2. To develop a novel VR intervention targeting identity development.
3. To assess the effectiveness of the VR interventions through a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
4. To investigate how individual differences in personality may moderate the effects of these interventions.
The Odysseus project is embedded within the Center for Developmental and Motivational Psychology (https://www.comugent.be/), which is part of the Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology at Ghent University (https://www.ugent.be/pp/vopspsy/en).
The principal investigators of the project are Prof. Dr. Peter Prinzie and Prof. Dr. Bart Soenens. The PhD project will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Peter Prinzie and Dr. Khawla Ajana.
The project is conducted in collaboration with the EMULab at IMEC-MICT (https://emulab.eu/).
As part of this project, the responsibilities of the doctoral researcher include:
- Preparing (e.g., submitting ethics applications, data management, designing questionnaires, etc.) and conducting (e.g., participant recruitment, data collection, etc.) the planned research activities, which primarily focus on evaluating the effectiveness of VR interventions among young people transitioning into emerging adulthood;
- Analyzing data (primarily quantitative), using advanced analytical strategies;
- Disseminating research findings through peer-reviewed scientific publications, conference presentations, and a doctoral dissertation;
- Engaging in science communication;
- Performing administrative tasks, contributing to team services, and participating in teaching activities within the department.
Job profile
We are looking for candidates who meet the following criteria:
- A Master’s degree in Psychology or a related discipline, potentially complemented by a degree in Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, with clear potential to develop into a talented researcher;
- A strong academic record (at least cum laude), with demonstrated interest in developmental psychology, personality psychology, or clinical psychology;
- Experience with empirical research, including familiarity with quantitative methods, data collection, and proficiency in statistical analysis and software (such as R or Mplus);
- High motivation to further develop methodological skills;
- A strong interest in, or experience with, intervention research (e.g., feasibility studies, RCTs) is a significant asset;
- Familiarity with, or interest in, virtual reality technologies and digital interventions. Prior experience is a plus but not a requirement;
- Ability to work independently and proactively, while also being open to feedback and willing to collaborate in a team environment with multiple PhD students and postdocs;
- Excellent communication skills in English (both spoken and written);
- Willingness to develop writing and presentation skills throughout the PhD trajectory, including writing academic papers and conference abstracts in English, presenting at national and international conferences and events, and communicating research findings in an engaging and accessible way to broader audiences, both nationally and internationally;
- A strong commitment to the societal relevance of the project.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
- Your contract will start on October 1, 2025 at the earliest (negotiable).
- The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by Team Personnel Administration based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales
- All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.
How to apply
Submit your application by August 15, 2025 at the latest, by emailing your application dossier to [email protected] and [email protected]. Your application should include:
- A detailed CV
- A motivation letter explaining why you are interested in this position
- One or two references (e.g., thesis or internship supervisor)
- A copy of your diplomas, including a transcript of records with individual study results for all academic years
Interviews will take place during week 34 (August 18–24, 2025).
As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Peter Prinzie ([email protected]).
