Are you interested in the use of novel technologies such as virtual reality and smartphone applications in social research? Do you find working with delinquents and collecting data in a field setting appealing? Do you aspire to be a researcher that conducts innovative research with societal relevance? And would you like to gain experience at renowned scientific institutes in both the Netherlands and Germany? If the answer to these question is yes, then the position we have on offer may be something for you.

The current PhD position is part of an international research project that involves the Institute of Education and Child Studies at Leiden University and the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law led by Prof. dr. Jean-Louis van Gelder. The project is carried out in collaboration with the Dutch Probation Service (Reclassering Nederland) and the Ministry of Justice and Security, The Netherlands.

Offenders are primarily focused on the here and now and often find long-term thinking challenging. This PhD position is part of a wider research project that involves the development of a novel intervention that aims to stimulate long-term thinking among delinquents. The intervention will use virtual reality and smartphone applications to present offenders with a virtual version of their future self.  Being confronted with their future self is presumed to make delinquents more aware of the future and more inclined to take the long-term consequences of their behaviour into account.

The first year of the position will be completed at the Institute of Education and Child Studies at Leiden University when most of the data collection will take place. The remaining three years of the PhD project will be carried out at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law in Freiburg, Germany. 

Key responsibilities
An important part of this position is conducting a large-scale randomised controlled trial among a delinquent population aged 18 to 25 years (on probation and/or in detention). The data collection will take place in the first year of the PhD-project at various locations in the Netherlands.

As a PhD candidate your tasks and responsibilities are the following:

• Contribute to the development of a novel intervention to reduce delinquent behaviour using virtual reality and / or smartphone applications;
• Investigate the effectiveness of this intervention through large-scale research among young offenders in the Netherlands;
• Guide and direct support staff (including Bachelor/Master students and research assistants);
• Maintain contact with different institutions and practitioners (including the Dutch Probation Service and Prison Services);
• Write scientific articles and giving presentations at scientific conferences;
• Complete a PhD thesis within 4 years.

• You have a Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. psychology, criminology, child studies or sociology). The completion of a Research Master’s degree is considered desirable;
• You have experience with (large-scale) data collection, quantitative analysis techniques (e.g., SPSS, R-studio) and writing scientific articles. Having experience with the publication of research articles is considered desirable;
• You have affinity or experience with working with juvenile offenders and are interested in technological innovations, such as virtual reality;
• You have excellent planning skills. You are meticulous, proactive, creative, critical and highly motivated;
• You are flexible and willing to travel;
• You reside in or are willing to move to the middle or west of the Netherlands (for the purpose of visiting research locations);
• You are fluent in both Dutch and English, both in speech and writing.

The PhD candidate will be appointed at Leiden University for one year (fulltime) in accordance with the CAO Dutch Universities. After a positive evaluation of the progress of the thesis, personal capabilities and compatibility the PhD trajectory will be continued at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law (Freiburg, Germany) for a further three years. During the entire PhD trajectory the doctoral candidate is enrolled at the Graduate School of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University. The thesis defense will take place at Leiden University.

The desired starting date is September 1, 2020.

For the part of the PhD trajectory conducted at Leiden University (year 1) the salary is set at € 2.395,- gross per month based on a full working week (pay scale P in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

In addition, Leiden University has good working conditions. For example, there is an end-of-year bonus (8.3%), holiday allowance (8%), excellent additional training facilities, paid parental leave and the option to choose tailor-made terms of employment.

For the part of the PhD trajectory conducted at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law in Freiburg, Germany (year 2-4), the salary is paid according to the rates for German civil service employees at 60% of E13 Level 1 or Level 2 (TVöD Bund) based on qualifications and previous experience. The salary includes all mandatory social insurance contributions for health care, unemployment and retirement. The appointment is for a maximum of three years.

Diversity
Both Leiden University and the Max Planck Society are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from disabled persons. They also aim to increase the percentage of female researchers in fields in which they are underrepresented and therefore also expressly encourage women to apply. Leiden University and the Max Planck Society strive to ensure diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds. Both organisations are committed to the reconciliation of family and career and can offer flexible working arrangements.

Leiden University

The Leiden Institute of Education and Child Studies aims to conduct high-quality research that addresses major social issues including child abuse, the quality of daycare, children’s reading problems, and the early diagnosis of children with severe mental and physical handicaps. The institute cooperates with other institutes believing that an interdisciplinary approach is fundamental to our understanding. The institute is part of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences of Leiden University. The faculty has approximately 5,000 students and 600 employees. Education and research is conducted on a variety of topics ranging from adoption to political behaviour. For more information, please visit the website.  

The Criminology Department of the Max Planck Institute in Freiburg is a young and dynamic research unit in one of the leading centers of criminological investigations and security in Europe. The institute is part of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, one of the most renowned research organisations in the world. The Criminology department investigates how new technologies, such as virtual reality, can be used to prevent criminal behaviour and reduce crime. For more information, please visit the website.