"PhD Position. Youth’s development in schools: Scrutinizing the role of the social and learning context at different time scales"

Appointment percentage: Full-time

Location : Leuven

Apply until:

01/09/2024 23:59 CET

bookmarks Tags: Psychology

(ref. BAP-2024-558)

Last modified: 12/08/24

The successful candidate will work in the Research Unit of School Psychology and Development in Context. Our research unit is dedicated to the study of typical and atypical development within different social contexts, such as schools, family and peer systems, and nursing homes for older adults (School Psychology and Development in Context (kuleuven.be). The group offers a collaborative, high-quality, and supportive research environment with 6 faculty and about 25 graduate students and postdocs. The PhD project is part of a larger research program within the School Psychology section, focusing on the development of children and adolescents within the school context, and risk and protective factors involved. Studies target both general student samples and students with special educational needs (e.g., high ability students).

The University of Leuven is a research-oriented institution and is consistently ranked among the top research universities in Europe. Leuven is one of the oldest university towns in Europe, about 30 km from Brussels. It has a rich history and an enjoyable atmosphere.

Unit website

Project

Schools are key developmental contexts for children and adolescents. The development of students’ motivation, engagement and achievement is dependent not only on individual factors, but also on the interplay of these factors with the social and learning environment. In this project, these developmental processes will be investigated at different time scales, combining long-term longitudinal research using trait-like assessments with short-term longitudinal experience sampling assessments in in-vivo classroom contexts.

The PhD project is part of a larger research program focusing on the development of children and adolescents within the school context and the role of individual and contextual factors. Individual factors refer to personality (e.g., Need for Cognition) and cognitive ability. Factors in the social and learning context include the affective quality of interactions and relationships with teachers and peers, teacher enthusiasm, and the degree of educational challenge. Developmental outcomes include students’ engagement, flow, burn-out, and achievement.

The successful candidate will work within this research program, together with other PhD students and researchers. They will conduct advanced statistical analyses on different data-sets that have recently been collected, including data from the longitudinal TALENT and MOMENT study. The TALENT study followed a large sample of students (N > 3,400) from Grade 7 until the end of secondary school, using surveys, tests, and peer nomination methods. The study offers unique opportunities to test long-term developmental processes, including peer influence and selection effects on flow, burn-out, and achievement, and the interplay with teacher-student relationships. The MOMENT study used experience sampling methodology to assess momentary engagement during math classes among a sample of Grade 11-12 students (N > 400). This study complements the TALENT study, allowing more fine-grained developmental analyses on social contextual and engagement processes in real-life classes. Specifically, the project will investigate the role of moment-to-moment variations in teacher support and conflict in classroom engagement, and the interplay with individual factors and factors in the learning environment (e.g., perceived challenge). In addition to analyzing available data, it is possible to collect new data to address related research questions, in collaboration with master students.

Profile

We are looking for a highly enthusiastic candidate, with a degree in Psychology (preferably Theory and Research, School or Clinical Psychology) or Educational Sciences.

The candidate is highly motivated and dedicated to study youth’s development in schools and the role of the social and learning context.

The candidate has prior experience with advanced statistical analyses (e.g., multilevel analyses, growth modelling), or is motivated to acquire the necessary statistical skills.

The candidate has excellent writing skills. Fluency in English is required (proficiency in Dutch is not required for this position).

Candidates embrace team science, and have excellent social, communicative, and organizing skills.

Offer

We offer a fully funded full-time PhD position for 1 year, which will be extended to 3 years in total in case of a positive evaluation. Salary is competitive and in line with university standards. 

The successful PhD candidate will be able to work closely together with their supervising team (prof. Karine Verschueren and prof. Hilde Colpin) and other researchers involved in the research program. They will become part of a dynamic, high-quality, productive, and supportive research group. 

The position predominantly involves research, but the faculty requires PhD students to do 120 hours of teaching per year, together with some other minor educational tasks. 

Interested?

Applications should include a motivation letter (with contact information of 2 referees) and a curriculum vitae, including copies of diploma certificates and transcripts at university level. Job interviews will be held on September 5 in the presence of prof. Karine Verschueren (promotor) and prof. Hilde Colpin (co-promotor). Job interviews may also include an assignment.

For more information please contact Prof. Karine Verschueren, mail: karine.verschueren@kuleuven.be 

You can apply for this job no later than September 01, 2024 via the online application tool

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