PhD Researcher in Digital Interventions for Youth Wellbeing

About the Role

Are you passionate about making a difference in supporting young people experiencing psychosocial issues? Do you want to contribute to innovations in the current healthcare system and empower youth in their capabilities? Apply now for this PhD position!

Responsibilities

As a PhD researcher, you will be responsible for several key tasks with the support of the research team and supervisors. You will assess the long-term impact of the ENYOY platform over a two-year follow-up period. Additionally, you will improve the accessibility of the ENYOY platform through qualitative, user-focused research. You will also conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the ENYOY platform compared to a waitlist condition, assessing its ability to reduce psychosocial problems, decrease stress, and improve social functioning among participants.

Your specific tasks will include:

• Designing and conducting qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to evaluate the usability, accessibility, and effectiveness of the ENYOY platform.
• Collaborating with stakeholders, including youth, mental health care providers, and policymakers, to ensure the relevance and impact of research outcomes.
• Working closely with your supervisor and co-supervisors to develop and refine research hypotheses, methodologies, and dissemination strategies.
• Writing research papers, reports, and potentially grant proposals, as well as presenting findings at conferences and workshops.

Requirements

• A completed master's degree in Psychology or a related field.
• Passion for youth mental health and a commitment to making a positive impact, reflecting a deep understanding of the challenges faced by young individuals.
• Advanced research skills, including experience with qualitative and quantitative methods, data analysis, statistical insight, and scientific writing, as demonstrated by a completed relevant (research) master's degree.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, crucial for working closely with diverse team members and stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills, attention to detail, and adaptability. Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines while responding flexibly to changing project needs.
• Fluency in Dutch and English, necessary for effective communication with team members, stakeholders, and participants.

What We Offer

• A flying start to your career in research.
• Ample space for your drive to shape the healthcare of tomorrow.
• Work on large-scale and independent research, with motivated colleagues from all over the world.
• A 12-month contract (with the possibility of extension for 3 years for a total period of 4 years).
• Salary scale OIO: €3,017 to €3,824 gross per month (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• 186.4 vacation hours per year and the possibility to save extra hours.
• Pension plan with BeFrank, a modern, understandable, and fairly priced pension.
• Excellent public transport accessibility and reimbursement of a large part of your travel costs. Additionally, we have ample parking spaces at the AMC location and a good bicycle scheme.

Work Environment

You will work at the AMC location, where AMC Medical Research (AMR) is based. AMR supports scientific research on a non-profit basis, providing researchers with everything they need to excel. AMR offers principal investigators (PIs) and project leaders guidance in project management, finance, and human resources. For medical-scientific research projects, legal support is also provided.

Join a young and energetic team. Colleagues involved in ENYOY 1, the predecessor of ENYOY the next steps, remain involved! The PhD researcher, peers, and supervisors are also part of the ENYOY the next steps team. Daily support comes from two project leaders, ensuring both content and organizational aspects are well supported and guided.

Moreover, there is close contact with colleagues in Australia, as the ENYOY project is the Dutch variant of the research known as MOST Orygen there.

Research Focus

The ENYOY platform enables accessible and non-stigmatizing support for young people with emerging mental health issues, potentially preventing the escalation of symptoms and social problems, and reducing pressure on traditional mental health care. Building on previous research and initial successful initiatives, our project aims to extensively evaluate and optimize the ENYOY platform through (i) a longitudinal study among youth who used the platform in an earlier research phase, (ii) qualitative participatory research on access and usability of the platform for youth waiting for treatment and care, and (iii) a randomized controlled trial.

The title of the ENYOY project is: “ENYOY the next steps: (cost)effectiveness and accessibility of a digital transdiagnostic peer- and professionally moderated social platform for and by youth with emerging mental complaints.”

Application Process

The first round of interviews is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20. Please keep this date in mind. The second round of interviews will follow on Thursday, August 29.

A reference check and screening may be part of the procedure. If you join us, we may require a VOG (Certificate of Conduct) for certain job groups. Internal candidates are given priority over external candidates if equally qualified.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.