The PhD project is part of a collaboration between the Department of Human Resource Studies and the Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, funded by The Herbert Simon Research Institute at Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

The PhD student will help collect data via questionnaires, apply quantitative and qualitative intervention mapping techniques and perform advanced statistical analyses to answer the following research questions:

1. Which HR practices and personal factors or clusters thereof are associated with employee’s psychological and physical health outcomes in different age cohorts and within the older age cohort? 
2. What is the role of perceptional (e.g., perceived work pressure), behavioral (i.e. lifestyle and job crafting behaviors), and biological (i.e., neuroendocrine and cardiovascular) indicators of job strain, in explaining the associations between HR practices and health outcomes, among and within (older) age cohorts? 
3. Which tailored, age-cohort adapted, interventions may improve psychological and physical health for employees?

We look for a highly motivated, inquisitive, enthusiastic, proactive, and result-driven PhD candidate. Applicants must have a relevant MSc degree (preferably but not necessarily a research masters), for example in psychology, human resource management, or in health sciences. 

• Excellent research skills and data analytical abilities, including in-depth knowledge of statistical programs (e.g., SPSS, Mplus or R) 
• Excellent project management and organization skills 
• Excellent communication and cooperation skills and the willingness to work in a team 
• Proficiency in English (Dutch is a plus but not necessary)

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 will be appointment at the Department of Human Resource Studies and begins with a period of 12 months. Continuation of the appointment with another 36 months will be based on performance evaluation. To prepare our PhD candidates for a career in academia, teaching is part of the PhD position (app. 1 day per week). 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 and the Departments of Human Resource Studies and Medical and Clinical Psychology

Tilburg University is a modern, specialized university. The teaching and research of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (TSB) revolve around the themes of Health and Well-being, and Adaptiveness. The School’s inspiring working environment challenges its workers to study complex societal problems in a more integral way, for which we need expertise which crosses the boundaries of a specific department.

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”, and a bachelor’s and master’s program in HR Studies.

Department of Human Resource Studies

The Department of Human Resource Studies is a well-established department with a strong reputation in academia. The department is well-known for its expertise in taking a balanced approach to strategic HRM (focusing on well-being, development and performance), strengths-based and lifespan approaches to HRM, and inclusive HRM. For more information about the HR Studies department and its staff members, please visit the following website: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/about/schools/socialsciences/organization/departments/human-resource-studies.

Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic disorders (CoRPS)

Researchers at CoRPS study the influence of psychosocial factors on health, and individual differences therein. CoRPS is part of the department of Medical & Clinical Psychology. For more information, please visit the website: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/research/institutes-and-research-groups/corps