PhD Position: Designing Virtual Reality Biofeedback for Enhanced Emotion Regulation in Police and Youth Radboud University in Netherlands

This PhD position at Radboud University offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the CONTEXT project, a nation-wide Dutch collaboration aimed at enhancing emotion regulation in police officers and youth through innovative virtual reality biofeedback methods. The project is funded by the NWO National Science Agenda and brings together eight academic institutions and over twenty societal partners, including police, youth organizations, and healthcare providers. The goal is to develop personalized biofeedback tools that help individuals recognize and manage stress signals, ultimately preventing violent escalations and fostering societal resilience.

As a PhD candidate, you will play a pivotal role in refining and validating a virtual reality biofeedback game designed for both youth and police. Your responsibilities will include collaborating with stakeholders, end-users, game designers, and the CONTEXT science team to enhance the game and its biofeedback algorithms. You will conduct user-interaction tests, record and analyze psychophysiological measures such as heart rate variability during acute stress, and optimize biofeedback algorithms. After initial assessments, you will help set up a large-scale trial to evaluate the efficacy of these methods. The project involves extensive interdisciplinary collaboration, including work packages focused on neuroimaging, ecological momentary and physiological assessments, theory and ethics, and societal impact.

The position is hosted at Radboud University’s Faculty of Social Sciences, within the Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment department of the Behavioural Science Institute. The research environment is highly interdisciplinary, with strong connections to psychology, neuroscience, communication science, and educational science. The Behavioural Science Institute is renowned for its high-quality research, excellent facilities, and commitment to open science and team science. You will also have the opportunity to start your teaching portfolio, dedicating 10% of your time to teaching in the psychology curriculum.

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in cognitive neuroscience or a related field (psychology, biology, biomedical sciences, computer sciences, or similar). Experience with psychophysiology (autonomic nervous system measures) using Matlab, Python, or similar tools, as well as virtual reality game design and user experience assessment, is highly valued. Advanced statistical analysis skills (including linear mixed-effects models and computational learning models) in R or similar tools are desirable. Candidates should be able to work effectively in an interdisciplinary and translational research environment, possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and be fluent in Dutch and English. Even if you do not meet all criteria, you are encouraged to apply if the role interests you.

The position offers a temporary contract (1.0 FTE) for 1.5 years, with the possibility of extension to a total of 4 years upon positive evaluation. The starting salary is €3,059 gross per month, increasing to €3,881 in the fourth year, plus an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Additional benefits include extra days off, flexible working hours, pension plan, sports and cultural discounts, and access to training and development schemes. The university provides a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative work environment.

To apply, submit your application via the provided link, addressing your letter to Floris Klumpers. The application form will specify which documents to include. Interviews will be held in late May and early June, with a possible short assignment for selected candidates. The preferred start date is 1 September 2026. For further information, contact Dr. Floris Klumpers at [email protected].