PhD Candidate Network

PhD candidate for a PhD project within the multicenter research consortium New Science of Mental Disorders (NSMD) focused on a network approach to psychopathology. The project investigates whether standard psychotherapeutic treatments become more effective for people with multiple diagnoses when interventions are tailored to causal symptom networks based on individual patient diary/EMA data.

The research focuses on both symptom reduction and an increase in mental well-being, and investigates factors important for immediate effects and sustainable recovery, with special attention to the role of experienced meaning in life. Additionally, the project uses causal network analyses on existing NESDA data. For the patient-related component, collaboration takes place with the Trauma Center of GGZ-Drenthe and with Psychiatry Noord.

• Completed (research) Master's degree in clinical psychology or a related field.
• Socially skilled and able to work well with others.
• Good at planning and organizing; resourceful and persistent.
• Affinity with statistics and interest in developing new statistical skills, for example for modeling symptom networks.
• Demonstrable scientific competencies, including analytical skills, curiosity, and openness to scientific debate.
• A good academic track record.
• Demonstrable affinity with clinical practice and motivation to translate scientific insights into clinical practice.
• Good command of Dutch and English.

• Developing the research protocol for the patient-related component based on the single-case experimental design (SCED) framework established by NSMD.
• Implementing the SCED in collaboration with the involved mental healthcare institutions and ensuring the effective and efficient execution of the study and data collection.
• Developing the study based on NESDA data into a concrete publication plan and handling the statistical processing, including causal network analyses.
• Publishing research results in international scientific journals and completing the project with a scientific dissertation.
• Presenting the research to fellow scientists and practice partners.
• Collaborating with fellow scientists within the larger project context.
• Contribute to a limited number of educational activities within the Psychology program, such as working groups on research skills and statistics.

Terms of employment in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, including secondary benefits and opportunities for professional development.

• Year-end bonus and holiday allowance.
• Possibility to work more or fewer hours in consultation, in exchange for more or fewer time off respectively; flexibility in working hours in consultation.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Temporary employment for a duration of four years; initially a contract for one year, with extension for the remaining three years following a positive performance and development review.

The University of Groningen (RUG) conducts research and provides education in many disciplines and focuses on interdisciplinary research, knowledge sharing, and societal participation. The RUG strives for an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working environment.

The Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences (GMW) conducts research and provides education on behaviour, thinking, learning, and living together, with a focus on health & well-being, sustainable living, learning & development, inclusion, and work. More than 4.500 students and approximately 650 staff members work on these themes.

The PhD candidate will be appointed to the Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology Basic Unit, which focuses on the main explanatory features of mental disorders, their translation into clinical applications, and the testing of intervention effectiveness. The research is embedded within the Dutch-Flemish Research School of Experimental Psychopathology (EPP) and is part of a collaboration with the University of Amsterdam, under supervision by experts from both universities.