PhD Candidate on The Future of Mixed Methods Research /Junior Lecturer in Methodology and Statistics

Obtaining your PhD together combined with being a teacher at the department Methodology and Statistics gives you the opportunity to kickstart an academic career.

Your position

Research: The Future of Mixed Methods Research is Rigorous, Open, and Scaleable through Automation

There is a rapid increase in the uptake of mixed methods in psychology because it provides a more holistic understanding of complex psychosocial phenomena, advances the debate in idiographic versus nomothetic assessment, and refines the development of psychological theories.

Yet rigor is underdeveloped in psychological mixed methods research, it is unclear how methodological innovations from (mostly quantitatively driven) open science and new computational methods empower meticulous mixed methods research and there is an increased interest in automating or enhancing parts of the qualitative research using large language models or more interpretable natural language modelling approaches. Often it is proposed to replace human-specific work, and empirical examinations that compare human and data-driven decisions are scarce and rarely involve experts in qualitative methodology.

To meet these challenges, the proposed PhD candidate will:

• Reinterpret Open Science through a mixed methods lens, and develop tools to support researchers in opening their mixed methods pipelines
• Design methods mixed methods guidance to integrate natural language processing, computational data and traditional qualitative data to future-proof mixed methods research
• Critically examine and empirically evaluate the role of newly developed interpretation, methods and tools in two challenging case studies: Using mixed methods for real world evidence, and using mixed methods to advance experience sampling methodology

Collectively, this PhD will contribute conceptual, empirical, and infrastructural advances to the future of mixed methods research in psychology.

You will work on a PhD project under the supervision of Dr. Tamarinde Haven, Dr. Marie Stadel and Dr. Caspar van Lissa. Your PhD research will focus on the future of mixed methods research. In consultation with the supervising team, you will have the opportunity to contribute directly to the scope of this research project based on your specific research interests, skills and career aspirations.

Teaching:
Your teaching responsibilities include giving tutorials/lectures and assisting lecturer teams in courses featured in the Bachelor and Master degree programs. As a junior teacher, you support senior teachers and offer guidance. You teach qualitative research methods and general courses in research methods in the programs in which the Methodology and Statistics department is involved. These include our Psychology and Social Sciences bachelors, our SBS and IDA research masters, the joint TU/e - TiU Data Science bachelor, the Data Science and Society master program, and the new AI for Psychological Research master. You will also be invited to supervise Bachelor students in writing their theses. You will have the opportunity to obtain your university teaching qualification.  

1. A (Research) Master’s degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences with a focus on Methodology and Statistics.
2. A proven research interest in and experience with qualitative and/or mixed methods research
3. Proficiency in English is mandatory (CEFR: C2 level). Dutch teaching skills are appreciated but not required.
4. Good research skills evidenced by good grades for research methods courses.
5. Excellent data analytical skills, as evidenced by a good command of R and/or Python
6. Experience with university-level teaching and genuine enthusiasm for teaching methodology and engaging students.
7. A demonstrated affinity with Open Science.
8. Enthusiastic, independent and strongly motivated.
9. Team spirit.
10. Willingness to work in a multidisciplinary social science environment.

Our offer
Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• A position based on 1.0 fte (40 hours per week).
• A start salary of €3.546 and maximum €4.412 gross per month for full-time employment, based on UFO profile Lecturer and salary scale 10. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
• This is a vacancy for a Lecturer in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 8 sub b CLA DU. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 6 years.
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
• The opportunity to work partly on campus and partly from home with a home office allowance of €2 per day.
• Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
• A monthly internet allowance of €25.
• An options model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave, more pension, a bicycle or personal training at our Sports Center.
• A moving allowance (subject to conditions).
• Employees from abroad may be eligible for a tax-free allowance for extraterritorial expenses equal to 30% of taxable salary.
• A pension with ABP; the largest Dutch pension fund.
• Training in personal development, career development, leadership, education, and research. Or a language course at our Language Center.
• A work culture in which we embrace differences, everyone is welcome and given equal opportunities.
• A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport.

For more information, please see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities.

Tilburg University is an academic, inclusive, and engaged community. Together with nearly 3,000 employees, we are committed to broad prosperity, sustainably, and inclusion. For current and future generations. We develop and share knowledge for the requirements of people and our society. This is how we contribute to solving complex social issues and help society move forward.

We educate our 19,500 students of 110 nationalities to become responsible leaders with knowledge, skills, and character. With our education and research for broad prosperity, we exceedingly focus on themes such as mental and preventive care, an inclusive labor market, the energy transition, and digitalization.

About Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (TSB) is one of the five faculties of Tilburg 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”, and “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 | Tilburg University
 

Department Methodology and Statistics

The Department of Methodology and Statistics is responsible for education and research in methodology and statistics for the social and behavioral sciences.

Methodology and statistics play an essential role in all subfields of the social and behavioral sciences, and related fields. At the Department of Methodology and Statistics we do research on and teach about quantitative and qualitative methods that researchers need in order to answer challenging research questions, come up with strong research designs, critically apply statistical analyses, and avoid bias when interpreting research findings. Within the department, there is a strong focus on developing novel statistical and methodological techniques to tackle complex problems in the social and behavioral sciences.

Department Methodology and Statistics | Tilburg University

Want to know more?

Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Dr Tamarinde Haven at T.L.Haven@tilburguniversity.edu