PhD fellowship in psychology

Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB); Belgique; Sur place; EUR 32 000 - 46 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) invites applications for a four-year, full-time PhD position within the ARC project on “Situating the Study of Women’s Body Ownership within a Family Context.” The doctoral research will examine how parenting practices shape body ownership in young women, situating its development in family context, with a focus on perceived parental overprotection, attachment and self-objectification.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Psychology or closely related field.
• Strong interest in psychological research across social, developmental, family, or gender psychology.
• Good communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Good command of French and English.

Responsabilités

• Involved in preparation and execution of research on family antecedents of women’s body ownership within the ARC project.
• Prepare a doctoral thesis embedded in the ARC project.
• Contribute to study design, data collection, statistical analyses, interpretation of findings, and preparation of publications.
• Publish scientific articles related to the project and participate in conferences, workshops, or seminars.

Connaissances

French language proficiency

English language proficiency

Formation

Master’s degree in Psychology

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) Research Field Psychological sciences » Psychology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 1 Nov 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Brussels) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 38 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The successful candidate will work with Philippe Bernard and Stijn Van Petegem on the ARC project“Situating the Study of Women’s Body Ownership within a Family Context”. The broader project examines women’s body ownership, defined as the sense of being free and legitimate to decide over one’s own body, by situating its development within a family context. In particular, the PhD project will focus on how parenting practices may shape body ownership in young women, with a particular emphasis on perceived parental overprotection, i.e., parenting behaviors that may limit opportunities to develop autonomy. The project will also investigate psychological mechanisms that may help explain these associations, including attachment and self-objectification.

The doctoral research will combine perspectives from social, developmental, and family psychology and will primarily rely on quantitative and experimental research methods. The PhD student will be integrated into a collaborative research team working on parenting, gender, self-objectification, and body ownership.

- You are involved in the preparation and execution of the research on the family antecedents of women’s body ownership within the ARC project.

- You prepare a doctoral thesis in the field of psychology, embedded in the ARC project.

- You contribute to the design of the studies, data collection, statistical analyses, interpretation of findings, and preparation of scientific publications.
- You publish scientific articles related to the project and engage in other types of science communication (e.g., active participation at conferences, workshops, or seminars).

- There may be a light teaching load in connection with the broader research activities of the host institution.

Requirements

Research Field Psychological sciences » Psychology Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

- Master’s degree in Psychology or a closely related field.

- A strong interest in psychological research, particularly in social, developmental, family, and/or psychology of gender.

- Familiarity with quantitative research methods and statistical analyses is an asset; experience with experimental and/or longitudinal research is also an asset.

- A creative and problem-solving mindset, with the ability to work independently while valuing teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration.

- Good communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

- Good command of French and English.

Languages FRENCH Level Good

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Additional Information

- We offer a full-time doctoral position for four years, ideally starting on 01/01/2027 (starting date negotiable).

- Salaries are competitive at the European level.

- EU Citizens and citizens from countries that have a bilateral social security agreement with Belgium: social security coverage including medical insurance, unemployment benefit, retirement pension, maternity leave and child benefit.

- Non-EU citizens from countries that have no bilateral social security agreement with Belgium: social security coverage including medical insurance, maternity leave and child benefit.

- Insurance against accidents in the workplace.

- On-site services at the ULB: medical center, university hospital, sports center, subsidized restaurants, cultural center, crèche, activities for children, etc.

Eligibility criteria

Master’s degree in Psychology or a closely related field.

Documents can be written in English or French.

Applications should be submitted by November 1st, 2026. Following an initial selection based on the applicants’ documents, suitable candidates will be invited for an interview around mid-November.