Doctoral scholarship Medical Communication and Psychology

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Department of Communication Studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences is looking for a talented and motivated full-time (100%) doctoral scholarship holder in the field of Medical Communication and Psychology for the CircBioCare project (https://www.circbiocare.com). The doctoral scholarship position focuses on gaining insights into individual and societal preferences for the uptake of innovative medical testing based on AI-informed early detection of disease, in this case knee osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability affecting half a billion people worldwide and – when its main symptoms appear – it is usually too late to revert the pathological process. Importantly, low-cost and accessible tools for early detection are entirely lacking. The CircBioCare consortium is devoted to developing and implementing AI-informed early detection tools for knee osteoarthritis.

The position is embedded within the research group Media & ICT in Organisations & Society (MIOS). MIOS is dedicated to the scientific study of individuals’ uses of media and digital technologies in interpersonal relations and in interaction with organizations, to gain insight into computer-mediated communication, its applications and effects, and to pursue evidence-based communication strategies, instruments and policy.

Position

• You will work actively on the preparation and defense of a PhD thesis in the field of Medical Communication and Psychology. The proposed project investigates how AI-based early detection of disease (specifically knee osteoarthritis) can be communicated to societal stakeholders to promote acceptance of these AI-tools.
• You will be a part of the MIOS research group and have access to a broad, interdisciplinary research network across faculties.
• You will occasionally work at Maastricht University, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Science, Department of Rheumatology.
• You will publish scientific articles related to the research project.
• You will present your research at both national and international conferences.
• You will carry out a limited number of teaching support tasks for courses in line with your research topic.

Profile

• You hold a Master Degree in Communication Sciences, Medical Psychology, Health Sciences, or related fields or you will have obtained it by the time you start work
• You are comfortable in doing research in multidisciplinary teams.
• You possess strong qualitative and quantitative research method qualities.
• You have excellent Dutch reading, speaking, and writing skills.
• You have excellent English reading, speaking, and writing skills.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation. In addition, you have a result-oriented attitude in your academic work.

What we offer

• We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of 1 year. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be extended up until a maximum of 4 years in total.
• The planned start date is June 1st 2026 or as soon as possible after that date.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders.
• You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• As a doctoral researcher, you will have access to a wide and varied range of courses and an educational credit through the Antwerp Doctoral School.
• You will do most of your work at city campus in downtown Antwerp, in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including April 23rd 2026 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include the following attachments:
• A motivation letter
• your academic CV.
• Your transcript of records

The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the possible next step(s) in the selection procedure. Selection interviews are scheduled to take place in the first two weeks of May. There are opportunities to have online interviews.

If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. Dr. Gert-Jan de Bruijn (Gert-Jan.deBruijn@uantwerpen.be MIOS Professor Strategic Communication and AI).