Mental health problems in students in higher education are both common and severe. Importantly, mental health problems are associated with academic underperformance and unemployment, and a lack of soft skills, such as self-management and stress and emotion regulation skills, plays a vital role in this relationship.
The current project aims to study the effectiveness of e-health interventions to improve mental health in students in higher education by enhancing soft skills. Specifically, we will test the efficacy of an innovative stress management intervention using virtual reality technology to enhance stress- and emotion regulation skills. Finally, we aim to build a prediction model of mental health in higher education.
Methods will include quantitative and qualitative research, psychophysiology, virtual reality technology, and computational modelling.

The PhD position will start April 1, 2021.


Your duties

• do original research investigating mental health interventions in higher education students
• apply computational modelling techniques to predict mental health in higher education students
• collaborate with researchers in health, behavioral, social and computer sciences
• collaborate with stakeholders in higher education (e.g. students, university staff, employers…)
• contribute to teaching activities in the Health Sciences department

• Research Master or Master in Health Sciences, Psychology, Neuroscience or others programs with a strong affinity for technological innovations for mental health
• research training and experience, excellent understanding of methodology and statistics, and experience with statistical software (SPSS, SAS, JASP or others)
• good computational skills and experience in and a strong affinity for programming (e.g. Matlab, Python, C++)
• a high level of proficiency in the English language, both in oral and written communication
• excellent interpersonal skills to work with multiple stakeholders

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts €2,395 (PhD) per month during the first year and increases to €3,061 (PhD) per month during the fourth year, based on full-time employment. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 1 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a duration of 3 years (so 4 years in total).
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment 
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavour – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 26,000 students. We employ over 4,600 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to around 6,000 students.