Postdoctoral Researcher "Stress Mechanisms of Psychopathology: network dynamics and dysregulation"

The Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology at Tilburg University is seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to contribute to a research program on how stress responses, while initially adaptive, may develop into persistent, transdiagnostic dysregulation underlying mental and somatic illness. 

The project focuses on how repeated or chronic stress becomes embedded in enduring psychological and physiological patterns, and how these patterns are associated with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue. The postdoctoral researcher will work at the intersection of theory development and empirical research, integrating insights from stress physiology, cognitive-affective processes, and contemporary approaches to modelling symptom network dynamics. A central objective of the project is to identify dynamic indicators of reduced resilience and maladaptive stress responsivity that cut across traditional diagnostic boundaries.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for a motivated researcher with a strong background in stress research to contribute to high-impact publications and to play a substantive role in the preparation of competitive large-scale grant applications.

Your duties may include:

• Conducting literature reviews in the area of stress-related psychological and physiological mechanisms underlying mental and somatic disorders;
• (Co-)authoring high-quality scientific articles and contributing to the preparation of large national and international grant proposals;
• Collecting pilot data using experimental, intensive longitudinal, and/or multimodal methods (e.g., experience sampling, physiological monitoring), and analyzing newly collected and/or existing datasets;
• Establishing and maintaining active collaborations with national and international researchers working in the field of stress, psychopathology, and related domains;
• Supervising research assistants and, where applicable, contributing to the supervision of PhD candidates;
• Being part of a collaborative research environment that promotes team science in the Stress, Pain, and Anxiety ResearCh (SPARC) research line of the department;
• Participating in meetings of the project research group, departmental research meetings, and broader academic activities, and being actively engaged within the department;
• Making a limited contribution to teaching within the department (up to a maximum of 10% of the appointment), depending on expertise and departmental needs;
• Adhering to principles of open science, research transparency, and responsible research conduct.

• You hold a PhD in (medical or clinical) Psychology, or in a field related to the interface between the behavioral sciences and (mental) well-being;
• Your scientific qualities are evidenced, among other things, by an excellent doctoral dissertation and publications in leading international scientific journals;
• You have an interest in, and preferably also experience with, scientific research (experimental and/or using ambulatory assessment, experience sampling) on psychological and physiological stress and how such stress may contribute to the development and persistence of psychopathology;
• Knowledge of and experience in the network theory of mental disorders is preferred;
• You work proactively and independently, but are also able to collaborate effectively in teams and with external professionals from different disciplines ((inter)national researchers);
• You are a role model of scientific integrity and an advocate of open science;
• 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;
• You possess strong analytical skills and have experience with statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, or R;
• You have excellent oral and written communication skills in both Dutch and English;
• You have excellent communication, organizational, and analytical skills.

This is a full-time position (1.0 FTE; 40 hours per week) for a period of 18 months.

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

For more information, please contact t.smeets@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