Dongning Ren

Maastricht University is offering a fully funded PhD position in Social Psychology, focusing on the lived experience of ostracism and social exclusion. This opportunity is supported by a European Research Council (ERC) starting grant under the supervision of Associate Professor Dongning Ren. The research aims to investigate how social exclusion and ostracism impact human experience, with connections to loneliness, discrimination, and inequality in real-world contexts. The ideal candidate will have a master's degree in social psychology or a related field, strong quantitative skills (especially in R), and a collaborative mindset. The position is based in Maastricht, Netherlands, and offers the chance to join a dynamic research team exploring cutting-edge topics in social psychology, causal inference, and the broader implications of social exclusion. The application deadline is 1 March 2026. For more information and to apply, candidates should visit the Maastricht University vacancy page. This position is ideal for those passionate about social psychology, ostracism, and quantitative research methods.

Maastricht University is advertising a postdoctoral researcher position in social psychology , generative AI , and social (dis)connections . The project is led by Dongning Ren , Associate Professor in Causal Inference in Psychology at Maastricht University, and will be supported by an ERC grant . The role is based in Maastricht, the Netherlands , and is aimed at candidates with a PhD in social psychology or a related field . The post specifically highlights applicants with a strong publication record and strong quantitative/R skills . This is a research-focused postdoctoral opening rather than a scholarship. The official job advertisement is now available via Maastricht University’s vacancies page. Research interests relevant to this position include social psychology , causal inference , quantitative methods , R programming , and AI-related social research .