PhD Position on Enhancing Effective Crisis Decision-Making at the Strategic Level Leiden University in Netherlands

Leiden University is offering a PhD position on Enhancing effective crisis decision-making at the strategic level within the NWO Zwaartekracht consortium Adapt!. The project is based in the Department of Social, Economic, and Organizational Psychology in the Faculty of Social Sciences and is embedded in a wider interdisciplinary consortium that studies how societies can build effective and legitimate responses to future crises.

The PhD researcher will investigate how high-level crisis decision-making groups such as executive boards, government cabinets, and senior coordination bodies operate under uncertainty, novelty, incomplete information, time pressure, and high societal stakes. The project uses a series of group-based experiments to study leadership, power, accountability, information-sharing, advice taking, conflict, cohesion, and physiological indicators of stress and motivation. This is a strong fit for candidates interested in decision-making, social and organizational psychology, team dynamics, and behavioural research methods.

The position is supervised by Prof. Dr. Daan Scheepers, Dr. Annabel Losecaat Vermeer, and Prof. Dr. Arjen Boin. The work is connected to the broader Adapt! consortium, which translates research findings into tools and strategies for citizens and frontline professionals. More information about the consortium is available at https://adapt-academy.nl/en/.

Applicants should hold a master’s degree in Psychology, Behavioral Science, or a related field by the intended start date of 1 December 2026. The university seeks candidates with strong quantitative and experimental skills, experience in behavioural data analysis using R, Python, or similar software, and excellent English-language communication skills. Dutch proficiency is preferred and described as essential for working with Dutch crisis organizations and professionals. Experience with group-based or decision-making research and interest in physiological measures are additional advantages.

The appointment is full-time for one year initially and will be extended by three more years after a positive evaluation. The post includes a salary of €3204 to €4051 gross per month for a PhD student, plus a holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, pension scheme, commuting reimbursement, and flexible/hybrid working options within the Netherlands. The role is based at Leiden University in the Netherlands.

To apply, candidates should submit a CV including the names and contact details of two academic references and a one-page motivation letter via the online application button. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of 30 September 2026.