Two postdocs in dynamic risk modeling in internationalizing disorders & non-suicidal self-injury

Are you a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher interested in (early) risk prediction, precision approaches to psychiatry, self-damaging behaviors (i.e., non-suicidal self-injury, disordered eating, suicidal behavior), or anxiety and depression? Would you like to deepen your knowledge of advanced quantitative methods and intensive longitudinal data?

The Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology (MCP) at Tilburg University is seeking (soon-to-defend) two PhD graduates or early-stage postdoctoral researchers to join the Mood and Personality Disorders team.

You will work on projects that aim to understand and predict internalizing disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression) and self-damaging behaviors (i.e., non-suicidal self-injury, disordered eating, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors) using advanced quantitative methods and high-resolution longitudinal data. These conditions contribute substantially to the global mental-health burden, and your work will directly inform the development of personalized, adaptive digital interventions.

You will be embedded in ongoing research programs led by Dr. Jonas Everaert (internalizing psychopathology) and Dr. Glenn Kiekens (self-damaging behaviors).

Together with these teams, your duties will include:

• Analyzing high-frequency ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data,
• Applying cutting-edge analytical approaches (Multilevel Vector Autoregressive Models, Dynamic Structural Equation Modelling, Hidden Markov Models, Causal discovery algorithms, Reinforcement Learning),
• Contributing to digital intervention innovation (including just-in-time adaptive interventions),
• Helping to bridge theory, methods, and clinical application in an interdisciplinary setting
• You will also play an active role in grant development (including methodological proof-of-concept work) and in writing first-author publications in high-impact journals.

• You hold a PhD in quantitative sciences (e.g., computer science, statistics, psychology, computational psychiatry, or related fields).
• Strong quantitative skills and demonstrated expertise in predictive modeling and advanced computational methods (e.g., Multilevel Vector Autoregressive Models, Dynamic Structural Equation Modelling, Hidden Markov Models, Causal Discovery Algorithms, Reinforcement Learning)
• Proficiency in R, Python, and/or Mplus.
• Excellent command of English (spoken and written)
• Your scientific qualities are evidenced, among other things, by an excellent doctoral dissertation and publications in leading international scientific journals;
• Motivation to work within interdisciplinary teams and contribute to shared research goals. Knowledge of or a clinical interest in internalizing psychopathology and/or self-damaging behaviors is a plus.
• You demonstrate perseverance and a strong sense of responsibility. In addition, you are conscientious, ambitious, and flexible, and able to function well under time pressure;
• We particularly encourage applications from researchers of diverse backgrounds and value curiosity, collaboration, and scientific integrity.

This is a 0.8–1.0 FTE appointment for 12–18 months (40 hours per week for full-time equivalent).

Tilburg University offers excellent employment conditions, with attention to flexibility and (personal) development, as well as attractive secondary benefits.

The salary, depending on experience, ranges from € 4.728 to € 6.433 gross per month for a full-time appointment, based on the UFO profile Researcher 3 and salary scale 11 of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Tilburg University applies a neutral remuneration system for job classification that is based on relevant work experience.

You are entitled to a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% of your gross annual income. With a 40-hour working week, you will receive 41 days of annual leave.

All university employees are covered by the ABP pension fund.

We make clear agreements about career paths and offer a wide range of facilities and schemes to support an optimal work-life balance. You will also have access to a broad selection of training opportunities, for example in leadership skills, personal effectiveness, and career development.

Tilburg University values an open and inclusive culture. We embrace diversity and encourage integration among staff and students. We strive to create equal opportunities for all employees and students, ensuring that everyone feels at home within our academic community.

Tilburg University has a vibrant campus in a beautiful green environment that is easily accessible by public transport. We are committed to a sustainable society and invite you to make an active contribution to this mission.

Please visit Working at Tilburg University for more information about our employment conditions.

Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (TSB) is a modern, specialized university. The teaching and research of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences are organized around the themes of Adaptive societies, organizations, and workers, Healthy life span, Personalized prevention and care. The School's inspiring working environment challenges its workers to realize their ambitions; involvement and cooperation are essential to achieve this.

Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

We offer:

• A stimulating, collaborative, and supportive research environment, with access to high-quality EMA datasets, computational infrastructure, and a team science culture.
• Opportunities to contribute to grant writing, project design, and the development of independent research ideas.
• Embedded collaboration with stakeholders with opportunities to co-supervise students and build leadership and network capacity.
• Mentoring from Dr. Jonas Everaert and Dr. Glenn Kiekens, with regular meetings focused on scientific progress, methods, and career trajectory.
• A unique position at the intersection of clinical science, data science, and digital intervention innovation, enabling the postdoc to build a strong translational and interdisciplinary profile.

For more information, please contact Dr. Jonas Everaert (j.everaert@tilburguniversity.edu) and Dr. Glenn Kiekens (g.kiekens@tilburguniversity.edu).

More information about the department of Medical and Clinical Psychology is available (in Dutch only) at: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/about/schools/socialsciences/organization/departments/medical-and-clinical-psychology