Postdoc 'How Does Exposure Work and for Whom in Youth Anxiety'

Are you exceptionally interested in research on working mechanisms in the field of youth anxiety?

Is it your ambition to become an excellent researcher and be a part of a large international collaboration?
Are you enthusiastic about handling and analysing data?

We would like to get to know you!

The program group Developmental Psychology of the Faculty Social and Behavioural Sciences is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher who is interested in improving treatment for youth with anxiety and stress-related disorders and wants to work in an international team.

What are you going to do

The Postdoc will become part of an international team working on a ZonMw funded project ‘The efficacy of exposure in youth with anxiety, OCD and PTSD: how and for whom does it work?’ directed by Dr. Lynn Mobach (University of Amsterdam) in close collaboration with Dr. Anke Klein (Leiden University). The Postdoc will be employed for 0.4FTE at the University of Amsterdam and employed for 0.4FTE at Leiden University.

The project

Research has consistently shown that exposure is the effective core component of CBT for youth with anxiety, OCD and PTSD. During exposure, children/youth approach that which they are most afraid of. However, we currently do not know how exposure works and which children/youth benefit from exposure. This project aims to identify mechanisms of action and individual predictors of exposure outcomes. The project consists of a re-analysis of existing data (amongst others an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis [IPDMA]) from international RCTs and other existing studies with the general aim to find out how exposure works for youth with anxiety on the macro- and micro-level. The project consists of two studies: Study 1 is focused on finding out how treatment works at the macro-level and for whom by investigating working mechanisms and moderators on the individual level. Study 2 is focused on finding out how treatment works at the micro-level by zooming in on individual treatment trajectories during exposure-sessions. A full description of the project can be found here.

What are you going to do
 

As a part of this team consisting of national and international researchers, clinicians, and societal partners, you will play a central role in this project. You will work on a wide array of research tasks, that include coordinating and managing communication with research groups across the world and supervising RA’s working on the project. You will manage and supervise data-entry, data-preparation, develop and conduct data-analysis, test hypotheses on the working mechanisms of exposure for youth anxiety, and draft articles for journal publication. There will be ample room for your own contributions and creativity and writing grant applications together.

Your tasks as a Postdoctoral researcher within this ZonMw project (0.8FTE) will include the following:

• Help coordinate and manage communication with national and international research groups to request and manage their data;
• Supervise RA’s working on the project;
• Draft pre-registrations;
• Prepare, combine and manage the datasets;
• Conduct data-analysis and prepare results for publications;
• Draft articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• Contribute to the program group Developmental Psychology and the wider scientific community through collaborations, workshops, presentations/talks, attending conferences.

What do you have to offer

You are a conscientious, stress-resistant researcher who prefers to work in a team and is passionate about improving treatment outcomes for youth with anxiety and stress-related disorders.

Your experience and profile

• A PhD degree in one of the social or behavioural sciences, such as psychology, pedagogics, sociology or a related field (e.g., medicine, epidemiology);
• Experience in managing (large) datasets;
• Proven methodological skills (quantitative);
• Experience with conducting longitudinal data-analysis and/or data-analysis on repeated measures data and/or large datasets;
• Experience with R or willingness to learn R;
• Affinity with Open Science (pre-registrations, sharing data etc.);
• Independence, but also a strong capacity for teamwork;
• Full professional working proficiency in English (speaking, writing, reading).

Having experience with conducting meta-analyses or IPDMA’s and/or (Bayesian) Mixed Effects Modeling is a pre.

International candidates are encouraged to apply but must be willing to relocate to the Netherlands for the duration of the position.

What can we offer you

The position concerns (temporary) employment of 30.4 (0.8FTE) hours a week for a maximum term of two years. The initial employment is for one year with a two-month trial period. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances your appointment will be extended for another year.

The anticipated start date is 1st September 2024. The project duration is two years.  For this position the University Job Classification profile Researcher 3 applies.
 

Depending on your experience, the minimum salary is €4.332 and the maximum salary is €5.929 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, in keeping with salary scale 11, as per the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities.

We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.

The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

What else do we offer

• a position in which initiative and input are highly valued;
• an enthusiastic and warm team that is open to new colleagues;
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

A challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organization. The social and behavioral sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Questions

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• Dr. Lynn Mobach, Assistant Professor, l.mobach@uva.nl, +316 82285599

Job Application

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application/motivation letter and resume/CV in one .pdf by Tuesday the 28th of May 2024. The interviews will take place on Wednesday the 5th of June 2024.

Applications in  .pdf should include:

• a curriculum vitae including publication list;
• a letter of motivation (max 800 words);
  
   

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

If you encounter Error GBB451/ GBC451, reach out to our HR Department directly. They will gladly help you continue your application.

No agencies please.