→ Apply before 30/07/2026 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)
→ Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
→ Department: PP07 - Ontwikkelings-, Persoonlijkheids- en Sociale Psychologie
→ Occupancy rate:40%
→ Number of positions: 1
→ Type of employment: Contract of limited duration
→ Term of assignment: 15 maanden
→ Wage scale: PD1 to PD4 (doctoral degree)
→ Required diploma:PhD
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 80 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.
Within the Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, we are seeking a m/f/x to serve as a postdoctoral researcher (15 months, 40% position) as part of an FWO project on need crafting among pre-adolescents.
YOUR TASKS
The project builds on an existing digital intervention, LifeCraft, which has previously been shown to successfully promote need crafting among adults, university students, and secondary school students. Need crafting refers to a construct within Self-Determination Theory that captures individuals' proactive capacity to contribute to their own well-being. Individuals high in need crafting are more aware of the contexts, activities, and persons that can satisfy their basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence, and they will more actively initiate actions to fulfil these basic needs. The current project is the first to examine whether need crafting yields similar benefits for well-being among primary school children (Grades 4–6) and whether this skill can be effectively trained at this age. LifeCraft was adapted for this younger population and has already been evaluated in an initial trial. Findings indicate that the intervention is promising, but also suggest that it can be better aligned with the classroom context, for example by involving teachers more actively in supporting children's action plans. The aim of the current project is to further identify when, for whom, and under which conditions the intervention is most effective, using both quantitative findings (including Latent Change Modelling) and qualitative data (including feedback from pupils and teachers). The goal is to then further optimize the intervention before implementing and evaluating an improved version in a new trial.
Within the framework of this project, the postdoctoral researcher’s tasks include:
- Preparing and coordinating the planned research activities, including developing questionnaires, preparing participant communications, establishing collaborations with schools, conducting pilot testing, and organizing the study procedures.
- Implementing the research activities, including supporting teachers during the intervention, coordinating quantitative and qualitative data collection, and conducting qualitative follow-up with participating schools.
- Analyzing research data, primarily quantitative, using advanced longitudinal analytical techniques.
- Disseminating research findings through peer-reviewed scientific publications, conference presentations, and invited talks.
- Contributing to administrative tasks, service activities within the research team, and educational activities of the department.
- Supervising a small number of Master's thesis students.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- Candidates hold a PhD in Psychology and have a strong research track record. Preference will be given to candidates with publications in the fields of Self-Determination Theory, Developmental Psychology, and Digital Mental Health Interventions (DMHIs).
- Experience in developing and evaluating digital interventions for pre-adolescents is considered a strong asset.
- Experience with children and adolescents is of added value.
- Candidates have a strong interest in developmental psychology, digital mental health interventions, mental well-being, and Self-Determination Theory, and are motivated to conduct intensive longitudinal intervention research in these areas.
- Candidates are able to work independently and proactively, while remaining open to feedback and willing to collaborate within a research team consisting of multiple PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers.
- Candidates possess strong quantitative research skills. Experience with longitudinal research or diary studies, as well as proficiency in advanced statistical software such as R and/or Mplus, is highly desirable.
- Candidates value the societal relevance of research and are committed to contributing to societal impact and knowledge valorization for a broad range of stakeholders.
- Candidates have excellent written and oral communication skills. Proficiency in Dutch is recommended to facilitate data collection.
- Candidates are willing to further develop their scientific writing and presentation skills throughout the project, including publishing in international peer-reviewed journals, presenting research at national and international conferences, and communicating research findings in an engaging and accessible manner to diverse academic and non-academic audiences.
- Candidates have an open intellectual mindset and enjoy collaborating with researchers and professionals from disciplines such as psychology, education, communication, and technology.
- Candidates are committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity and ethics in their research, publications, and knowledge valorization activities.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- We offer you a contract of definite duration for a period of 15 months (40% appointment) as a postdoctoral researcher.
- You will be part of an interdisciplinary team.
- You will work at the Dunant campus (UGent).
- The start date is scheduled for October 1, 2026.
- Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale WM1 to WM4 (if you hold a Master’s degree) or salary scale PD1 to PD4 (if you hold a doctorate). 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.
INTERESTED?
Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.
Your application must include the following documents:
- In the field ‘CV’: your CV and a transcript of your academic record (merged into one pdf file)
- In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter in pdf format
- In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.
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. Bart Soenens ([email protected]). Important: do NOT send your application by email, but apply online.
Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via [email protected].
