PhD Position in Psychology

Faculty: Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Department: Psychology
Hours per week: 36 to 40
Application deadline: 23 August 2026

Why do some attempts to comfort a partner strengthen a relationship, while others backfire?

In this PhD project, you will investigate how interpersonal emotion regulation unfolds between partners in daily life and over time. Using experience sampling, laboratory interaction studies, and longitudinal assessments, we aim to uncover how daily interactions, relationship dynamics, and individual differences shape emotional and relationship wellbeing, helping answer an important question: what forms of interpersonal emotion regulation work, for whom, and under which circumstances?

Your job

The Department of Social, Health, and Organizational Psychology at Utrecht University has an opening for a PhD position. As a PhD candidate, you will have the following responsibilities:

• conducting literature reviews and designing quantitative studies (experience sampling studies, in-lab interaction studies, surveys);
• collecting, analyzing, and reporting data, leading to international scientific publications and a dissertation;
• presenting findings at national and international conferences;
• teaching (10%);
• actively participating in the research group and the department;
• completing the PhD program at the Kurt Lewin Institute (KLI).

Your qualities

• hands on, proactive mentality;
• master’s degree in Psychology (preferably research master program);
• strong analytical and statistical skills;
• strong programming skills in R (or willingness to learn);
• robust methodological training in quantitative research methods;
• affinity with research on interpersonal emotion regulation;
• fluency in written and spoken English.

Furthermore, your suitability is ideally exemplified by:

• experience with collecting and analyzing ecological momentary assessment data;
• experience (or affinity) with more complex statistical analyses (e.g. dyadic and/or longitudinal data);
• experience with open science practices.

Our offer

• a job for 1 year, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment;);
• a working week of 36 - 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 3.059,- in the first year and €3.881.- in the fourth year of employment in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues.

The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.

More information

For more information about this position, please contact Lisanne Pauw by l.s.pauw@uu.nl (available after August 9th).

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University. Acquisition is not appreciated.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology.

To apply, please send a letter of motivation, your curriculum vitae, a list of BA and MA grades, the contact details of one referent and if possible a research publication or MA thesis via the ‘apply’ button.

Please note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. Our International Service Desk (ISD) can answer your questions about living in the Netherlands as international staff. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal.

The first round of interviews will take place on September 1st and 3rd in the morning.

Our preferred start date is October 1st 2026.

The application deadline is 23 August 2026.

In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com