Liesbet De Baets

The MULTIPREP trial is a PhD research opportunity at KU Leuven, embedded within the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (MSK) research group. This group is dedicated to advancing the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in diverse populations, including elite athletes, individuals with spinal pain, osteoarthritis, and frail older adults. The research focuses on neuromuscular and proprioceptive control of posture and movement, as well as psychosocial and lifestyle factors influencing musculoskeletal pain across rheumatology, traumatology, orthopedics, and sports injuries. The PhD project is part of an FWO-TBM funded initiative titled “The added value of MULTImodal biopsychosocial telePREhabilitation for individuals undergoing lower limb arthroPlasty: the MULTIPREP trial.” The TBM programme supports therapies, diagnostics, and preventive methods that require governmental funding due to limited industrial interest. The project addresses the high frequency of lower limb joint arthroplasties in Belgium and the significant proportion of patients who experience persistent pain and reduced physical activity post-surgery. The aim is to improve recovery and promote a more active lifestyle through a multimodal biopsychosocial teleprehabilitation intervention, combining pain science education, physical activity promotion, and stress management guided by motivational interviewing and solution-focused therapy principles. Scientific objectives include evaluating the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of teleprehabilitation plus treatment as usual (TAU) versus TAU alone in clinical outcomes at 12 months post-arthroplasty. Outcomes measured include pain, functioning, physical activity levels, cognitive-emotional outcomes, joint awareness, patient satisfaction, performance-based outcomes, quality of life, healthcare utilization, and productivity loss. Applicants should hold or expect to obtain a Master of Science degree in a relevant field (rehabilitation sciences and physiotherapy, psychology, medicine) by October 1, 2026. Proficiency in Dutch and English, strong academic writing and communication skills, motivation for the research topic, attention to detail, teamwork skills, and willingness to contribute to teaching and supervise master’s theses are required. Eligible candidates are encouraged to apply for personal funding from the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO). The position offers a full-time PhD contract within an interuniversity collaboration (KU Leuven, VUB, UHasselt, Auckland University of Technology) and clinical partners (UZ Brussel, UZ Leuven, ZOL, Ziekenhuis Geel). KU Leuven is the main institution, with VUB as a partner. Benefits include access to expertise, international research network, research infrastructure, PhD training, intensive supervision, and a stimulating work environment. The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of a four-year PhD trajectory upon positive evaluation. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. For accessibility or support questions, applicants may contact the provided email address. Application deadline is May 11, 2026. Apply online via the KU Leuven job portal. For more information, contact Prof. dr. Liesbet De Baets at [email protected].

KU Leuven is offering a full-time PhD researcher position within the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation research group of the Faculty of Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences. The project is part of the MULTIPREP trial, an FWO-TBM-funded research initiative focused on the added value of multimodal biopsychosocial teleprehabilitation for people undergoing lower limb arthroplasty. The PhD will be carried out in a strong collaborative setting involving KU Leuven, VUB and UHasselt, with international input from Auckland University of Technology and clinical partners including UZ Brussel, UZ Leuven, ZOL and Ziekenhuis Geel. The research examines whether teleprehabilitation can improve clinical outcomes after hip or knee replacement and whether it is cost-effective compared with treatment as usual. The project addresses an important clinical challenge: persistent pain and suboptimal recovery after total joint arthroplasty, together with limited long-term uptake of physical activity. The proposed intervention aims to support better functional recovery, general health, and reduced socio-economic burden by targeting psychosocial recovery mediators and encouraging a more active lifestyle. Applicants should hold a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy. The vacancy specifically seeks a Dutch-speaking candidate with fluent English, strong academic writing skills, careful working methods, good communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively. The selected researcher will also undertake 10% clinical work at UZ Leuven as part of the appointment. The position offers a 100% PhD contract initially for one year, with the possibility of continuing into a four-year PhD trajectory subject to favorable evaluation. The successful candidate will benefit from intensive supervision, research infrastructure, methodological support, and training in scientific writing within an international research network. The application deadline is 2026-09-30. Interested candidates should apply via the KU Leuven application portal. For further information, contact Prof. dr. Liesbet De Baets at [email protected].