This PhD position is part of the Healthy Adaptation to Pregnancy, Postpartum and Parenthood (HAP3) Project, funded through Horizon-MSCA. 

Aims: (1) to examine the associations between bio-psycho-social factors and obesity as well as mental health problems during pregnancy, postpartum, and interpregnancy periods and (2) to investigate the dynamic interplay between obesity and mental health problems in mothers, partners, and their offspring.

Host institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

Secondary institution: TU Dresden (Germany)

Project-specific requirements :

• A MSc or equivalent degree in a relevant field such as psychology, public health, epidemiology, or a related discipline; or you will obtain this degree before September 14th, 2024;

• Strong background in statistical analysis and experience in analyzing longitudinal data;

• Proficiency in using statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R);

• Good analytical, writing, and presenting skills;

• Eager to learn new things, highly conscientious, flexible, and a collaborative attitude;

• Willingness to learn Dutch is desirable.

Eligibility criteria

We welcome applications from individuals of any nationality and background, provided they meet the following requirements:

• Educational Qualification: Applicants must possess an MSc or an equivalent degree in the field of Health Sciences, Medicine, Psychology, Midwifery, Nursing, Public Health or Social sciences or other disciplines relevant to the overall project (more details specified in the project specific requirements above);
• PhD Status: Applicants must not hold a PhD degree or have successfully defended a PhD;
• Mobility Condition: Applicants must not have lived or conducted their main activities (work, studies, etc.) in the host institution for more than 12 months within the three years immediately preceding the recruitment date. Exceptions include compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and periods spent in the process of obtaining refugee status;
• Local Eligibility: Applicants must meet local requirements and be eligible for enrollment in the PhD program at the host and secondary university involved in the supervision of the doctoral candidate.
• English Proficiency: Applicants must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English (proof of B2 level or equivalent). 

Type of Contract: temporary
Job Status: full-time
Offer Starting Date: ideally 1 March 2025

Our international consortium of 5 leading universities and 11 associated partners (including 7 non-academic partners) provides the PhD candidates with a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse academic and professional community, benefit from the expertise and resources of different institutions, and contribute to cutting-edge research in the fields of obesity and mental health during critical reproductive periods. 

Selected candidates will be offered a competitive salary aligned with the MSCA-JD regulations for Doctoral Researchers. The exact net salary will be determined at the time of appointment, taking into account local tax laws, employer costs, social security contributions and the country correction factor to account for varying costs of living across different EU Member States. The salary package includes: a living allowance, a mobility allowance and a family allowance (if applicable). 

Selection process

The initial phase involves reviewing eligibility and evaluating each candidate's qualifications, which does not require their presence. Eligible candidates will be ranked based on the merit and required skills. Candidates who pass this evaluation will be invited to an online interview (Indicatively 23-29 September). Shortlisted candidates based on first interview will be contacted for final online interview on November 21st or 22nd 2024.

Contact & Application

For further information, please contact associate professor Mirjam Oosterman via m.oosterman@vu.nl. 

For information on the application process or technical issues, please contact Dr. Alice Cavolo at info@hap3.eu.

For more details on this and related projects and to apply, visit the HAP3 website,  https://hap3.eu/.