PhD Researcher in Adolescent Mental Health, Digital Prevention and Self-Harm (SAMPO Project)
The Faculteit Psychologie & Educatiewetenschappen at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is seeking a PhD student for a doctoral grant within the SAMPO (Scalable Approach to Mental Illness and Self-Harm Prevention Online) Horizon Europe project. Coordinated by the PRISM expertise center, SAMPO aims to develop and evaluate a scalable, tiered online prevention programme for adolescents and young adults, combining e-screening, personalised e-assessment based on network analyses, and modular online risk and resilience toolboxes.
The doctoral research will be situated at the intersection of clinical psychology, adolescent mental health, self-harm prevention, digital prevention, and personalised assessment. The PhD project will focus on the development, validation, and implementation of the Psychological Referral Optimization algorithm (PRO), a digital e-screening tool designed to support early identification, risk stratification, stepped triage, and referral in adolescents and young adults.
As a PhD researcher, you will contribute to the Belgian rollout of the SAMPO cohort and trial infrastructure, including recruitment, liaison with schools and partner organisations, participant follow-up, and data collection. You will support the implementation, validation, and refinement of the PRO algorithm, conduct quantitative analyses of longitudinal and psychometric data, and prepare scientific publications, conference presentations, preregistrations, reports, and project deliverables. The role also involves participatory co-design activities with young people and stakeholders, and dissemination to schools, youth services, clinical services, policy actors, and the wider public.
You will be embedded in PRISM, the VUB network for Psychology, Research and Innovations for Mental Health, and work closely with the PSYR research group. The position is based at the Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene).
Funding is provided through a doctoral grant as part of the Horizon Europe project. Applicants should have a relevant master's degree and experience with quantitative analyses, psychometric data, prediction modelling, mediation/moderation analyses, person-centred approaches, or network analyses. Motivation to work in adolescent mental health, digital prevention, and self-harm prevention is essential. The ability to collaborate with international partners, schools, and stakeholders is expected.
To apply, submit your application via the VUB jobs portal using the provided link. Prepare your CV, motivation letter, and relevant documents. For further information, contact the supervisors or visit the VUB website.
