We offer a fully-funded PhD position (funded by FWO – Research Foundation Flanders) in the Laboratory of Experimental Social Psychology (LESP) at KU Leuven. The position is initially funded for 3 years, with the possibility of securing additional funding for an extra year.

LESP is part of the Research Group Brain & Cognition (B&C) in the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at KU Leuven. Led by Prof. Vera Hoorens, LESP will consist of 4 doctoral students, 1 research intern, and 8-10 master thesis students from Fall 2024. The team is supported by two part-time managerial assistants and the faculty’s ICT service. LESP is a dynamic, cohesive, and productive research group committed to fostering collaborations, Responsible Research Practices, and FAIR and Open Science.

As a PhD student, you will be enrolled in the doctoral program of the faculty, focusing primarily on your doctoral research and training program, with minimal teaching and administrative tasks. Your supervisors will be Prof. Vera Hoorens (LESP), Prof. Walter Schaeken, and Prof. Susanne Bruckmüller from Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany). Prof. Filip Buekens, a philosopher of language from the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science (KU Leuven), may also be involved as a consultant.
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Project

The project, titled “Are old folks wise, or are they wiser than youngsters? How the wording of claims about social groups spreads stereotypes,” is funded by FWO (grant number G053623N). This research examines how the wording of claims about social groups (e.g., age, gender, professional, religious, and ethnic groups) influences people's perceptions. The project will investigate the determinants of comparative formats in claims and how these formats shape the interpretation by readers and listeners, contributing to the spread of stereotypes. The project will test hypotheses from theories and findings in social and cognitive psychology, linguistics, and philosophy. As a predoctoral researcher, you will be heavily involved in preparing and conducting experiments, analyzing and interpreting data, publishing research, and disseminating results.

Profile

• Recently graduated with a Master’s in Psychology or Research Master in Behavioural or Social Sciences, or graduating by September 2024.
• Excellent academic record.
• Strong interest and motivation to pursue a PhD in experimental social psychology, particularly at the intersection of language, verbal communication, and cognition.
• Solid foundation in research methods and statistics (including R, SPSS, and/or JASP), with a desire to expand methodological and statistical skills.
• Excellent command of English; knowledge of Dutch and/or German is an asset but not required.
• Good communication skills, both written and oral.
• Well-organized, able to take initiative, work independently, and collaborate effectively.
• Committed to FAIR and Open Science, Research Ethics, and Responsible Research Practices.
• Willing to relocate to Belgium and travel (mainly in Europe, particularly Germany) for research and conferences.
• Eager to start a PhD project that is fully funded for 3 years, with additional funding available if needed.
• Strong analytical skills to understand existing datasets and creativity to design and conduct new studies.

Offer

• Full-time appointment for one year, extendable to 3 years based on satisfactory performance, with potential for a fourth year if needed.
• A well-prepared project, including an initial study that can serve as a template for subsequent studies, with opportunities for the doctoral candidate to contribute to analysis and publication.
• Excellent research facilities.
• Supportive research groups led by committed professors, with strong international reputations and collaborations.
• Opportunities for professional development through seminars, the Doctoral School for the Humanities and Social Sciences at KU Leuven, and participation in national and international conferences and summer schools.
• Additional benefits for academic staff at KU Leuven, including paid holidays, commuting cost reimbursement, health and hospitalization insurance, and discounts on university restaurants and sports facilities.

Interested?

For more information, please contact Prof. Dr. Vera Hoorens at +32 16 32 60 28 or Vera.Hoorens@kuleuven.be, or Prof. Dr. Susanne Bruckmüller at susanne.bruckmueller@fau.de.

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