1 - Working at the VUB
For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike.
At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located.
Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again.
Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.
2 - Position description
The Faculteit Psychologie & Educatiewetenschappen, Department Psychologie, research group No Large Research Group, is looking for a postdoctoral researcher who will take a leading scientific role in the Horizon Europe SAMPO project at VUB. The postdoctoral researcher will work closely with Prof. Imke Baetens and Prof. Martijn Van Heel, the SAMPO project manager, doctoral researchers, master students and international consortium partners. The successful candidate will help strengthen the scientific coordination of the SAMPO project at VUB, contribute to the development and evaluation of the PRO algorithm and the SAMPO app, and lead high-quality analyses and publications based on multi-country cohort and trial data.
A selection of your tasks
- Take a leading role in the scientific implementation of the SAMPO project at VUB, with particular attention to study design, measurement, intervention evaluation, data quality, analysis and publication strategy. Support the coordination of VUB-led work packages and deliverables, including those related to e-screening, trial evaluation, statistical analysis, ethics and policy impact.
- Lead or co-lead analyses of multi-country longitudinal cohort data and nested RCT data, including statistical analysis plans, preregistrations, psychometric work, intervention-effect analyses and person-centred or network approaches where relevant.
- Contribute to the further development, validation and implementation of the PRO algorithm, PECAN person-centred assessment and modular intervention components in collaboration with consortium partners.
- Oversee Belgian data collection workflows and quality assurance procedures, including documentation, data management, monitoring of recruitment and retention, and alignment with ethical/safeguarding protocols.
- Prepare high-quality scientific manuscripts, project reports, deliverables, conference presentations, grant-related texts and translational outputs for stakeholders and policy audiences.
- Co-supervise PhD students, master students and research assistants, and contribute to team meetings, training activities and methodological support within PRISM/PSYR.
- Support participatory co-design and stakeholder engagement activities with young people, schools, services and clinical/community partners.
- Contribute to dissemination, exploitation and sustainability activities, including implementation guidance, policy briefs and collaboration with the project communication team.
For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.
3 - Profile
What do we expect from you?
- You hold a PhD in clinical psychology, developmental psychology, psychiatry, public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, health sciences, educational sciences or a closely related discipline.
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- You have expertise or a strong demonstrable interest in adolescent or young adult mental health, self-harm, suicide prevention, digital mental health, personalised intervention, clinical trials, longitudinal research or implementation science.
- You have strong quantitative research skills. Experience with R and advanced statistical methods such as longitudinal modelling, multilevel modelling, structural equation modelling, psychometrics, clinical trial analysis, network analysis, machine learning or causal modelling is a major asset.
- You have a clear publication record relative to career stage and are motivated to publish in high-quality international journals.
- You can translate complex scientific questions into feasible study procedures, analysis plans, deliverables and publications.
- You have excellent written and spoken English. Dutch is an asset for coordination with local stakeholders and participants; willingness to engage with the Dutch-speaking context is valued.
- You are able to coordinate tasks, support junior researchers, work independently and collaborate in a large international consortium.
- Experience with Horizon Europe, multi-country projects, digital intervention trials, EMA/ESM, data protection, youth participation or safeguarding protocols is a plus.
- As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here.
The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.
4 - Offer
Are you going to be our new colleague?
You’ll be offered a contract, for an assignment of 0.5 FTE, for 12 months (extendable, on condition of the positive evaluation of the research activities), with planned starting date 01/10/2026.
You’ll receive a salary linked to one of the scales set by the government.
At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.
As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:
- Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
- An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
- Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
- Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike;
- A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
- Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques;
- Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps;
- The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
- And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.
5 - Interested?
Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?
Then apply, at the latest on 01/07/2026, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:
- your CV;
- your motivation letter clearly indicating your interest in the position and how your expertise will contribute to SAMPO;
- your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni);
- one or two relevant publications or writing samples if possible.
Our application process is as follows (subject to change):
- step 1: an initial selection based on your application file;
- step 2: a job interview.
Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Imke Baetens at [email protected] or on 0495455080.
Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be, and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.
Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.
