Doctoral Fellow in Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology – MindBreath Project Ghent University in Belgium

Ghent University invites applications for a full-time doctoral fellowship in the Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, as part of the FWO-funded 'MindBreath' project. This interdisciplinary research aims to foster stress resilience in adolescence through a synergistic intervention combining growth mindsets and resonant breathing. The project addresses the rising prevalence of stress-related symptoms such as anxiety and depression among adolescents, leveraging their cognitive flexibility and biological plasticity to promote adaptive changes and new skills for stress management.

The MindBreath project will conduct a randomized controlled trial with approximately 450 adolescent participants recruited from secondary schools across West and East Flanders. The intervention compares mindsets-only, breathing-only, combined mindsets and breathing, and active control conditions. Psychological and physiological mechanisms will be examined, including cognitive beliefs, heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity, daily stress dynamics, and inflammatory activity. A multimethod approach will be used, involving questionnaires, physiological measures at rest and during laboratory assessments, and experience sampling.

The PhD student will be responsible for all phases of the project: obtaining ethical approval, recruiting participants, preparing and collecting data, coordinating with app developers, and analyzing complex nested data using R and/or Mplus. The role also includes disseminating research findings through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and science communication materials such as infographics and videoclips. Educational activities include supervising master thesis students and collaborating with an interdisciplinary team at the Dunant campus.

Supervision will be provided by Prof. Dr. Matteo Giletta and Dr. Nathalie Michels (Phaselab), and Prof. Dr. Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt (Gheplab), with support from a postdoctoral researcher and master's students. The position offers opportunities to attend international conferences and research stays abroad. The fellowship is for an initial 12 months, extendable up to 48 months after positive evaluation, with a salary at 100% of the net AAP member rate, tax-free, and determined by family status and seniority. Ghent University provides extensive fringe benefits, including paid leave, training, bicycle allowance, and ecocheques.

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in Psychology or a related discipline (preferably a research master, minimum cum laude), with degree requirements fulfilled by the start date. Candidates should demonstrate initiative, passion for research, strong interest in adolescent mental health and psychophysiology, excellent scientific writing and communication skills, and high proficiency in English and Dutch. Experience in school-based data collection and multilevel data analysis is desirable, but motivation and willingness to learn are essential.

Applications should be submitted in English as a single PDF (CV, diploma with study results, motivation letter, and contact information for at least two academic referees) via email to prof. Matteo Giletta ([email protected]) with subject 'PhD position FWO MindBreath' by July 5th, 2026. Interviews will be held July 13th–16th. For further information, contact prof. Matteo Giletta.