PhD PROJECT:
Understanding early environmental influences on mother-infant sleep dynamics, stress regulation, and bonding
The first 1,000 days of life are critical for setting the foundations of health, wellbeing, and development. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate for a PhD project investigating how early environmental factors, such as maternal exercise and outdoor infant sleep, shape mother-infant sleep dynamics, stress regulation, and bonding. This project will follow mother-infant dyads from pregnancy until the first postnatal year, using intervention and observational methods. Are you our new PhD candidate?
The PhD project is based at the Developmental Psychobiology Lab, Baby & Child Research Center, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center. The project will be supervised by dr. Beyza Ustun-Elayan, dr. Noor de Waal, assoc. prof. dr. Roseriet Beijers, and prof. dr. Carolina de Weerth. You will join a vibrant, international, and interdisciplinary research team with expertise in developmental psychology, perinatal health, and psychobiology.
Profile
We are looking for a strong candidate who:
– Holds a master’s degree in psychology, developmental psychology, psychobiology, or a related field.
– Has a strong interest in perinatal mental health, developmental psychology and infant development.
– Is motivated to co-develop studies.
– Preferably has prior experience working with pregnant women, infants, or longitudinal data.
You also:
– Have excellent English language skills.
– Are strongly motivated to do scientific research.
– Combine an independent working style with a collaborative spirit.
– Have excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
– Are proactive and eager to develop your academic career in a supportive team environment.
About the position
– Duration: 4 years
– Start date: Flexible, based on mutual agreement
– Funding: This PhD opportunity is open to candidates who have secured an external scholarship for carrying out a PhD on a full-time basis (e.g., government-funded awards).
How to apply?
Please send the following documents as a single PDF file to Carolina.deWeerth@radboudumc.nl:
– A CV
– A cover letter outlining your motivation and relevant experience
– A copy of your academic transcript (Master’s degree)
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For informal inquiries, feel free to contact beyza.ustun-elayan@radboudumc.nl or Carolina.deWeerth@radboudumc.nl.
RADBOUD EXCELLENCE PROFESSORSHIP
For colleagues there are opportunities of working at our lab with a Radboud Excellence Professorship Established researchers in their discipline may be nominated for a Professorship. Professors may come for a maximum period of 6 months, and we can offer them excellent opportunities for carrying out research, and for investigating research questions of their interest. They may split their stay into smaller blocks and spread their time at Radboud over a longer time period so they can maximise the effectiveness of their collaboration. Contact us for more information on the possibilities.
For more information: click here.
RADBOUD EXCELLENCE POSTDOC FELLOWSHIPS
For colleagues that obtained their PhD no more than 8 years ago, and have a good publishing record, there are opportunities of working at our lab with a Radboud Excellence Fellowship. Fellows stay at Radboud for two years and truly become part of the academic community. Contact us for more information on the possibilities.
For more information: click here.
Other Opportunities
Our lab offers PhD and postdoc opportunities, as well as undergraduate opportunities to gain research experience. Prospective Master and PhD students with external funding are invited to contact us. Also, Bachelor and Master students can apply for summer internships on a voluntary basis. For those looking for (additional) funding, there are some opportunities to obtain funding in The Netherlands (click here) and from the Radboud University (click here and here).
We select candidates based on their motivation, CV, English language capacities, and writing skills.
DPB LAB 