Project description
The transition to parenthood represents a major life event that shapes individual and couple development. How does parenthood affect psychological well-being? This has been a central question in personality-developmental, social psychology and family sociology for decades. Yet, research has fallen short of reaching a consensus, with studies portraying the transition to parenthood as either negative or positive experience with regard to psychological well-being. The project’s overarching goal is to reconcile these inconsistent findings by examining whether the transition might have different consequences for different aspects of psychological well-being and for different individuals. 
To study well-being dynamics surrounding the transition to parenthood, the project will use longitudinal and intensive longitudinal methods, including analyses of existing panel datasets as well as collection of novel data using experience sampling methods.
 

Job description
The PhD project is part of a collaboration between the Departments of Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Sociology, funded by The Herbert Simon Research Institute at Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (TSB). The PhD student will be involved in all three departments. 
The PhD student will work with secondary data (e.g., Pairfam), collect novel data (as part of the Brabant study) via online questionnaires and smartphones, and apply advanced statistical longitudinal analyses to answer the following research questions:

1. How does the transition affect different types of well-being, including hedonic (e.g., life satisfaction) and eudaemonic (e.g., meaning in life) global assessments and moment-to-moment daily experiences of well-being?
2. Is there between-individual variability in reactions to the transition to parenthood and if so, what factors (e.g., daily experiences during the transition, individual differences, immediate and broader social context) explain it? 

We look for a highly motivated, inquisitive, enthusiastic, proactive, and goal-oriented PhD candidate. Applicants must have a relevant MSc/MA degree (preferably a research master), for example in social, developmental or personality psychology, sociology, or social/health sciences.

• Excellent research skills and data analytical abilities, including in-depth knowledge of statistical programs (e.g., R, Stata, Mplus)
• Interest in interdisciplinary work combining psychological and sociological perspectives
• Interest in high-quality research on psychological well-being, life transitions and developmental change, and close relationships 
• Excellent cooperation skills and the ability to work independently as well as in a (cross-disciplinary) team  
• Data collection skills and interest in learning how to manage / organize a panel study including experience sampling modules
• Interest in engaging in education (up to 25% of total time), such as thesis supervision
• Proficiency in English (Dutch is a plus but not necessary)

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

The PhD candidate will be employed by Tilburg University, which is among the top of the Dutch employers and has an excellent policy concerning terms of employment. The appointments are intended to lead to the completion of a PhD thesis. The PhD appointment begins with a period of 12 months. Continuation of the appointment with another 36 months will be based on performance evaluation. The gross salary for the PhD position amounts to € 2.395 per month in the first year, rising to € 3.061 per month in the fourth year, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week).

Tilburg University, the School and the Departments
Tilburg University is a modern, specialized university. The teaching and research of the TSB revolve around themes such as Health and Well-being, Labor Market and Society. The School’s inspiring working environment challenges its employees to realize their ambitions; involvement and cooperation are essential to achieve this. Tilburg University offers a bachelor’s and several master’s programs in psychology, including the research master “Individual Differences and Assessment” and “Social and Behavioral Sciences”.

Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Department of Social Psychology is widely known for high-quality education and research in the domains of social (social cognition, interpersonal relations, interactions between and within groups), economic (economic decision making and psychological processes underlying it) and work and organizational psychology (performance, social relationships and well-being at work). For more information about the Department of Social Psychology, please visit: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/about/schools/socialsciences/organization/departments/developmentalpsychology  

The Department of Developmental Psychology is a well-established department with a strong reputation in academia. The department is well-known for its expertise in (1) successful lifespan development including personality development and life events in adolescence, young adulthood and old age, (2) social relationships and (3) developmental psychopathology. For more information about the Department of Developmental Psychology, please visit: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/about/schools/socialsciences/organization/departments/developmentalpsychology

The Department of Sociology consists of sociologists who are interested in questions related to social inequality and social cohesion. A core topic within the theme of social cohesion is the study of families – how they are impacted by substantive forces in societies and what role they play in maintaining social cohesion. The Sociology department has received top marks for quality and relevance and plays a focal role in international data collections such as the European Values Study. For more information about the Department of Sociology, please visit: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/about/schools/socialsciences/organization/departments/sociology