Occupation : Full-time
Period : Fixed-term contract
Place : Leuven
Apply no later than : August 20, 2017

The Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the University of Leuven, Belgium, seeks a motivated PhD candidate on the project "Interpersonal Emotion Regulation in Couples: Cultural Differences and Similarities" under the supervision of Professor Batja Mesquita, and co-supervisors Dr. Michael Boiger, Professor Peter Kuppens, and Professor Colette van Laar.

Interpersonal Emotion Regulation In Couples: Cultural Differences & Similarities
The successful candidate will work in the Center for Social and Cultural Psychology at the University of Leuven. The center includes approx. 17 post docs and Ph.D. students, all working on related themes. Research facilities are excellent, and the Center has an outstanding international reputation and extensive research collaborations with social and cultural psychology groups nationally and abroad. The University of Leuven is a research-oriented institution and is consistently ranked among the top research universities in Europe. Leuven is one of the oldest university towns in Europe, about 30 km from Brussels. It has a rich history and culture, and a unique and friendly atmosphere.
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Project
This project is part of a research program (5 Phd students, 2 postdocs) on the role of culture in emotions under direction of Professor Batja Mesquita. Our previous research has shown that people experience more of those emotions that fit the cultural relationship goals. Cultural differences in emotions occur because different relationship goals are valued across cultures. The present project examines how interactions between romantic partners may help to produce the cultural differences in emotions.The central hypothesis to be tested in this research is that cultural differences in relationship goals motivate differences in interpersonal emotion regulation, which in turn produce differences in the ensuing dyadic emotions. The research also examines ifdyadic emotions that are helpful to the cultural relationship goals are associated with the partners’ wellbeing and relationship satisfaction through goal satisfaction.

Candidates preferably have completed a Research Master in psychology, and have experience with advanced statistics. They should also have a deep interest in theory, good English reporting skills,and excellent organizational and social skills. Research experience with observational data will be an advantage.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

The PhD position extends over a period of 4 years. We offer a competitive salary with various additional benefits (in terms of holidays,health insurance, transport costs), excellent research facilities, and conference and travel budget. The preferred starting date is October 1, 2017(but this is negotiable).

KU Leuven

Situated in Belgium, in the heart of Western Europe, KU Leuven has been a centre of learning for nearly six centuries. Today, it is Belgium's largest university and, founded in 1425, one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe. As a leading European research university and co-founder of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), KU Leuven offers a wide variety of international master’s programmes, all supported by high-quality, innovative, interdisciplinary research.