Job Utrecht University, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences - PhD researcher for the project Thinking, Feeling, and Fighting: Effects of Cognitive and Emotional Empathy upon Adolescent-Parent Conflict Resolution (0,9 fte)

Project description:
You will carry out your research within the project Thinking, Feeling, and Fighting: Effects of Cognitive and Emotional Empathy upon Adolescent-Parent Conflict Resolution. This project focuses with specific attention on differences between cognitive and affective forms of empathy in determining adolescents’ particular forms of prosocial responding to family conflicts. This research project is placed within the Research Centre Adolescent Development, which is part of the Youth and Family department of Utrecht University. The PhD research candidate will use data from existing multi-informant longitudinal datasets, in addition to designing and conducting two experiments. In terms of main research questions, the candidate will examine the differences between cognitive versus affective forms of empathy in influencing: 1) the development of specific conflict behaviors, 2) specific physiological and behavioral responses to family members’ expressions of anger, and 3) the intergenerational transmission of conflict behaviors from parent to child.

Tasks:
Under the guidance of senior researchers and a full-professor as supervisors, the PhD candidate will build a suitable theoretical framework for carrying out a series of at least four publishable empirical research studies (including both longitudinal and experimental methodologies) that will form the basis of a PhD dissertation. The PhD candidate will optionally have a minor teaching load, consisting mainly of small scale undergraduate teaching and individual supervision of students.

The ideal candidate has a relevant master’s degree in the Social Sciences, such as Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or Pedagogical Science. A strong understanding and enthusiasm for experimental methods is essential for a successful candidate, as is willingness to master complex statistical analyses. Prior experience working with longitudinal data, structural equation modeling, and/or physiological measures is strongly advantageous. As the project includes conducting experiments with adolescent participants and their families, a good written and oral command of both Dutch and English is important.

The initial appointment to the position will be made for a 0,9 fte for 1 year. With satisfactory completion, this will result in an extension for an additional 3 years. It is expected that the appointee will complete all requirements for the PhD degree within this period. This PhD position can be extended with 0,1 fte by teaching (under)graduate courses of the department.

The expected start date is November 1, 2010. The salary is € 2,042 gross per month in the first year and is expected to increase to € 2,612 gross per month in the fourth year for a full time appointment, contingent on satisfactory performance. We offer an enjoyable working environment, state-of-the art lab facilities, and a stimulating research climate. More information about the employment conditions can be found on the website.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences carries out relevant scientific research of a very high quality and provides challenging academic teaching in the fields of human behaviour and society. The faculty’s research and teaching contributes to a critical reflection on society, human behaviour and their interconnection. More than 5,800 students follow a broad range of undergraduate and graduate (academic and research) programmes, set up by a collaboration of five departments: interdisciplinary social science, sociology, methodology and statistics, pedagogical and educational sciences, and psychology. As a result of the faculty’s wide variety of programmes and innovative and groundbreaking research, some 650 staff members have ample opportunity to benefit from each other’s knowledge and expertise.

Are you interested? If so, you can get more information by contacting Dr. S. Hawk, e-mail: S.T.hawk@uu.nl  

For further information or for a copy of the awarded grant application for this project, please email the Secretary of Pedagogical Sciences at pedon@uu.nl  (phone +31 (0) 30 253 4601).