PhD: Understanding Amotivation in Young People with Psychosis: focusing on Approach – Avoidance Conflicts

Join our interdisciplinary team at the Center for Clinical Psychiatry (CCliPs) and the Center for Contextual Psychiatry (CCP) at KU Leuven. CCliPs, led by Prof. van Winkel, focuses on the socio-envirome of psychosis, using Virtual Reality, epidemiology and experimental tasks to examine, for example, the impact of childhood trauma and minority stress on the development of youth mental health problems. The CCP is a leading, internationally recognized research center known for its expertise in designing, implementing, and analysing experimental studies and clinical trials, using Experience Sampling Methodology in mental health research. Headed by prof. Inez Myin-Germeys, CCP brings together 25 researchers from diverse backgrounds in a vibrant and collaborative environment. Both CCliPs and CCP are part of the Department of Neurosciences within the School of Medicine at KU Leuven, one of the most renowned research universities in Europe. You will join their Methusalem program, an ambitious, large-scale research initiative dedicated to developing new interventions for negative symptoms of psychosis. Together with a second PhD student working on the project, you will be responsible for setting up a longitudinal study examining the role of social factors in the emergence and persistence of amotivation, and how approach-avoidance conflicts may be involved in this process.
Website unit

Project

In this project, the candidate will investigate how amotivation – a core negative symptom of psychosis- emerges and evolves over time in young people with early psychosis. Using epidemiological methods, experience sampling and experimental tasks assessing approach-avoidance tendencies, the candidate will gain a deeper understanding of the processes underlying amotivation.

A key responsibility, together with a second PhD student, will be to recruit patients with early psychosis and develop new tasks assessing approach-avoidance using Virtual Reality and experimental manipulation of fear and reward learning.

This position is part of a recently funded, large-scale and innovative research program, aimed at creating new treatments for negative symptoms, among the most challenging aspects of psychiatric care. The candidate will collaborate closely with other PhD students and research assistants involved in this overarching program. Insights from both qualitative and quantitative work will inform the development of novel interventions.

The candidate will join a dynamic, interdisciplinary team of clinical psychologists, experimental psychologists, psychiatrists, and statisticians, working in an environment that fosters collaboration and scientific excellence.

Profile

The candidate is resident in psychiatry or has a master’s degree in psychology or a related field (Mental Health, Psychiatry, Social/Health Sciences) and has demonstrated research interest. Previous experience with or knowledge of fear/reward learning paradigms, the experience sampling method and literature on psychosis or youth mental health is a plus. Also, the candidate should have good written and oral command of Dutch and English (C1 proficiency level).

Offer

A contract for one year will be offered, which is renewable for another three years after a positive evaluation. Salaries for PhD students are competitive by international standards. The starting date is flexible, but no later than the first of July 2026 (or as is fitting within the individual program of residents in psychiatry).Interviews will be held on March 30 and April 2.

Interested?

For this application, the following information will be considered:

• Cover Letter (describing your motivation, research career goals, skills, and experience)
• CV
• Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)
• Contact details of at least two reference persons
• Other information for consideration (e.g., a list of publications if applicable)

Please use the university’s job portal when applying for this position.

For more information, please contact Prof. Ruud van Winkel ([emailprotected]) or Prof. Inez Myin-Germeys ([emailprotected]).

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.