KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences / School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Center for Contextual Psychiatry (CCP) and the Methodology of Educational Science Research Group (CMPO), is offering a PhD position focused on developing a gold standard for real-time assessment of negative symptoms in young people with psychosis. The project aims to create gold-standard Experience Sampling Method (ESM) items to measure amotivation, a core negative symptom of psychosis in youth, by combining psychometrics, quantitative analysis, and qualitative methods. The research supports digital interventions for treating negative symptoms and involves collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of clinical psychologists, experimental psychologists, psychiatrists, and statisticians. The successful candidate will apply quantitative methods such as time-series analysis and multilevel modeling, validate psychometric properties of ESM items, and develop methods to evaluate ESM items in ecological momentary interventions. Responsibilities also include writing papers for international journals and contributing to open-science initiatives and publications. The position offers opportunities to collaborate across research lines in ESM methodology, person-environment interactions in psychosis, and digital mental health interventions. Applicants must have an MSc in Psychology, Mental Health, Social Sciences, or a related field, with strong experience in quantitative research and statistical methods. Familiarity with psychometrics and mixed-methods approaches is a plus, and experience with ESM is highly desirable. Candidates should be committed to open science and have excellent English proficiency (C1). The offer includes an initial 1-year contract, renewable for three more years after a positive evaluation, with a competitive international PhD salary. The start date is flexible but must be no later than 1 July 2026. The application deadline is 16 March 2026, with interviews scheduled for March 30 and April 2. To apply, submit a cover letter, CV, BSc & MSc diplomas and transcripts, and contact details for at least two referees via the KU Leuven Jobsite. For more information, contact Prof. ginette lafit or Prof. Inez Myin-Germeys at their KU Leuven email addresses.

KU Leuven’s Center for Contextual Psychiatry (CCP) and CMPO invite applications for a full-time PhD position focused on developing gold-standard Experience Sampling Method (ESM) items to assess amotivation, a core negative symptom of psychosis, in youth. This interdisciplinary project combines advanced psychometrics and qualitative methods to create robust, real-time measures supporting digital interventions for negative symptoms of psychosis. The successful candidate will join internationally recognized research teams and participate in the Methusalem program, which focuses on long-term research into negative symptoms of psychosis. The doctoral student will apply quantitative methods such as time series and multilevel modeling to analyze ESM data, evaluate the validity and psychometric properties of ESM items using mixed methods, and develop novel quantitative approaches for item functioning in ecological momentary interventions. Responsibilities also include writing research papers for international peer-reviewed journals and collaborating across three research lines: ESM methodology, person-environment interactions in psychosis, and digital mobile mental health interventions. Applicants must have a Master’s degree in psychology, mental health, psychiatry, or a related discipline, with strong quantitative/statistical skills and research experience in mental health, psychosis, or clinical research. Excellent English proficiency (C1) is required. Preferred qualifications include experience with ESM, familiarity with psychometrics, mixed methods, and open science practices. The position offers a competitive salary by international standards, an initial one-year contract renewable up to four years, and opportunities to publish in high-impact journals and gain expertise in ESM and digital mental health. The start date is flexible but must be no later than July 1, 2026. Application materials include a cover letter, CV, diploma and transcripts, and contact details of at least two references. Applications should be submitted via the KU Leuven job portal, referencing BAP-2026-25. For more information, contact Prof. ginette lafit or Prof. Inez Myin-Germeys.