Ruud Van Winkel

PhD Opportunity: Understanding Amotivation in Young People with Psychosis at KU Leuven KU Leuven, Belgium, invites applications for a PhD position focused on understanding amotivation in youth with early psychosis. The project, situated within the fields of Clinical Psychology , Psychiatry , and Mental Health , aims to investigate approach-avoidance conflicts and the social factors underlying amotivation—a core negative symptom of psychosis. The research will employ a combination of epidemiology, experience sampling, virtual reality, and experimental tasks to generate insights for novel interventions targeting negative symptoms in young people. Project Highlights: Interdisciplinary research environment (CCliPs & CCP) Cutting-edge methods: VR, experience sampling, experimental tasks Contribution to the Methusalem program for innovative psychiatric interventions Competitive international PhD salary Responsibilities: Recruitment of young patients with early psychosis Development and implementation of VR-based and experimental tasks assessing approach-avoidance tendencies Conducting a longitudinal study to track the emergence and persistence of amotivation Collaboration with an interdisciplinary team including clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, experimental psychologists, and statisticians Integration of qualitative and quantitative findings to inform intervention design Eligibility & Requirements: Master’s degree in Psychology, Psychiatry, Mental Health, or related Social/Health Sciences Interest in psychosis, youth mental health, and research methodology Experience with fear/reward learning paradigms, experience sampling, or psychosis literature is a plus Proficiency in Dutch and English (C1 level) Motivation to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary clinical research team Application Process: Submit a cover letter (motivation, research goals, skills, experience), CV, diplomas and transcripts (BSc & MSc), and contact information for at least two references via the KU Leuven Job Portal Optional: publication list Contact supervisors: Prof. Ruud Van Winkel ([email protected]) and Prof. Inez Myin-Germeys ([email protected]) Deadline: 16 March 2026 This PhD position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative psychiatric research using advanced methodologies in a leading European institution. For more information, visit the official job posting or contact the supervisors directly.