PhD Positions: BSI Graduate School – Empowering the Young Radboud University in Netherlands

The Behavioural Science Institute (BSI) Graduate School at Radboud University is offering four PhD positions focused on the theme 'Empowering the Young.' These positions are part of an interdisciplinary research environment within the Faculty of Social Sciences, where fundamental, applied, and translational research is conducted to address important societal issues and contribute to their solutions. The BSI is renowned for its commitment to open science, team science, and a collaborative, inclusive research culture.

The research theme 'Empowering the Young' encompasses a broad spectrum of young people, including infants, children, adolescents, students, early-career workers, and young parents. The aim is to study the challenges faced by young people and contribute to their empowerment and well-being by providing knowledge, tools, and confidence to shape their future. The four BSI programmes offering PhD positions are: Behaviour Change and Well-Being (BCW), Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment (EPT), Learning, Education, and Development (LED), and Work, Health and Performance (WHP).

PhD candidates will have a teaching task of 10% and the opportunity to develop their teaching portfolio for the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). The positions offer an initial contract of 18 months, with the possibility of extension to a total of 4 or 5 years depending on FTE. The starting salary is €3,059 gross per month, increasing to €3,881 in the fourth year, with additional benefits including an 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, extra days off, flexible working hours, and a pension plan. Employees also receive discounts on sports and cultural activities and can tailor their employment conditions for optimal work-life balance.

Applicants must hold a (Research) Master's degree in Behavioural Science, Psychology, Pedagogical Sciences, Educational Sciences, or Communication Science. Strong analytical, methodological, and statistical skills are required, along with proficiency in English for scientific publishing. Candidates should demonstrate flexibility, creativity, teamwork, independence, adaptability in communication, proactivity, solution-orientation, resilience, and openness to feedback.

The BSI provides excellent research facilities and fosters collaborations with non-academic partners. The Faculty of Social Sciences is dedicated to studying human behaviour, education, communication, society, and culture, offering education to 6,000 students and employing 700 staff. Research is carried out within three institutes: the Donders Centre for Cognition, the Behavioural Science Institute, and Radboud Social Cultural Research.

Applications must be submitted online via the provided link, addressed to Prof. Dr. Debby Beckers. Candidates should indicate which (max. 2) PhD positions appeal to them most and include all required documents as specified in the application form. Interviews will take place in May, with employment preferably starting on 1 September, but no later than 1 November 2026.

This is an excellent opportunity for aspiring behavioural scientists to join a vibrant, interdisciplinary research community and contribute to impactful research on youth empowerment.