Fully Funded PhD Position in De-escalation – Radboud University, Netherlands (Psychophysiology, Wearables & Aggression Reduction in Residential Care)

Radboud University is offering a fully funded 4-year PhD position in De-escalation within the Faculty of Social Sciences, Behavioural Science Institute, Nijmegen, Netherlands. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated candidate interested in psychophysiology, stress and sleep research, wearable technology, clinical and forensic psychology, behavioural science, ethical analysis, and aggression reduction in residential care settings.

Position Snapshot

• Institution: Radboud University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Behavioural Science Institute, Nijmegen, Netherlands

• Project: De-escalating Aggressive Encounters between Frontline Workers and Citizens (Consortium Project – Work Package 2: Frontline Workers’ Psychophysiology and Subjective Experience)

• Level: PhD / Doctorate (full-time, 1.0 FTE, 4-year employment contract)

• Funding: Fully funded PhD position through Radboud University (paid employment contract)

• Research areas:

  • Psychophysiology of stress, sleep, and recovery in care professionals

  • Wearable technology for real-time monitoring of physiological responses

  • Escalation and de-escalation of aggression in residential care settings

  • Ethical analysis of wearable-based monitoring in clinical and forensic contexts

  • Mixed-methods research combining quantitative (wearables, surveys) and qualitative (interviews, focus groups) approaches

  • Coercion reduction and staff support in residential treatment clinics

• Supervision: Prof. dr. Robert Didden (promotor) and consortium partners

• Teaching load: 10% (opportunity to work on University Teaching Qualification portfolio)

• Start date: 1 November 2026 (or by mutual agreement)

• Contract duration: Initially 1.5 years, extended to 4 years upon positive evaluation

• Application deadline: 16 August 2026

• First interviews: Week of 24 August 2026

• Application portal: Radboud University online application system – https://www.ru.nl/en/working-at/job-opportunities/phd-position-de-escalation

• Application fee: None

• Contact: Prof. dr. Robert Didden – robert.didden@ru.nl

About the Research Project

This PhD project is part of the larger consortium project “De-escalating Aggressive Encounters between Frontline Workers and Citizens” and is embedded in Work Package 2 (WP2), which investigates frontline workers’ psychophysiology and subjective experience. The project examines how stress, sleep, recovery, and physiological responses influence staff wellbeing and behaviour in residential care, especially in relation to the escalation or de-escalation of aggression and the potential use of coercive measures.

The research sits at the intersection of psychophysiology, wearable technology, clinical and forensic psychology, behavioural science, and practical ethics. The PhD candidate will work with staff in residential treatment clinics for young people and adults, including settings with and without mild intellectual disabilities. The project uses a cross-sector perspective, while providing an in-depth healthcare and forensic focus.

Key research activities include:

• Investigating how stress, sleep, recovery and physiological responses influence staff behaviour and the escalation or de-escalation of aggression in residential care

• Using wearable biosensors to monitor physiological responses (e.g., heart rate, skin conductance, sleep patterns) in real-world care settings

• Conducting incident-related assessments, surveys, and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to capture subjective experiences of stress and aggression

• Performing qualitative interviews and focus groups with care staff to understand their experiences, coping strategies, and perspectives on wearable-based monitoring

• Conducting practice-based ethical analysis to explore when wearable-based monitoring might help with timely reflection, support allocation, and decision-making in high-risk interactions, and when it may raise concerns around privacy, voluntariness, autonomy, and data sharing

• Developing evidence-based recommendations for improving staff support, reducing coercion, and promoting responsible innovation in residential care

• Publishing research results at leading international conferences and in high-impact scientific journals

• Collaborating with researchers from psychophysiology, psychology, ethics, and implementation science at Radboud University and consortium partners

• Fulfilling a 10% teaching load (e.g., supervising Bachelor’s/Master’s students, assisting in courses) and working towards a University Teaching Qualification portfolio

This project combines psychophysiology, wearable technology, mixed-methods research, clinical and forensic psychology, and ethical analysis to address fundamental questions about staff wellbeing, aggression management, and responsible innovation in residential care.

Funding and Financial Support

Selected candidates will receive a fully funded, salaried PhD position with the following core features:

• Contract type: Full-time employment (1.0 FTE, 38 hours per week), initially for 1.5 years with extension to 4 years upon positive evaluation

• Salary level: Gross monthly salary between €3,059 (year 1) and €3,881 (year 4) under salary scale P (Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, CAO NU)

• Benefits:

  • 8% holiday allowance

  • 8.3% end-of-year bonus

  • Extra days off: With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20

  • Pension scheme (partially paid by Radboud University)

  • Partially paid parental leave

  • Flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU

  • Access to state-of-the-art research facilities, wearable technology, and computing infrastructures

  • Professional development opportunities, training, and access to university facilities

  • 10% teaching load with opportunity to work towards University Teaching Qualification

• Research support: Access to modern psychophysiology labs, wearable biosensors, clinical partners, and funds for conference travel, research visits, and collaboration, as per Radboud University norms

This funding model makes the position accessible to both Dutch and international candidates, provided they meet the eligibility and enrolment requirements.

Who Should Apply

This position is ideal for candidates with a strong background in psychobiology, clinical or forensic psychology, behavioural science, health sciences, neuroscience, or related fields, and a clear interest in psychophysiology, wearable technology, stress and sleep research, aggression reduction, and ethically sensitive research in complex care settings.

Academic Background

Applicants should hold a Research Master’s degree (or equivalent) in one of the following or closely related fields:

• Psychobiology

• Clinical Psychology

• Forensic Psychology

• Behavioural Science

• Health Sciences

• Neuroscience

• Or a closely related discipline (e.g., Cognitive Neuroscience, Public Health, Social Sciences with strong psychophysiology focus)

Required Qualifications and Experience

Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

• Background in psychobiology, clinical or forensic psychology, behavioural science, health sciences, or neuroscience

• Experience with quantitative methods (e.g., statistical analysis of physiological data, surveys, EMA)

• Interest in qualitative or mixed-methods studies (e.g., interviews, focus groups, thematic analysis)

• Ability to build trust in clinical settings and feel comfortable working closely with care teams

• Motivation to connect scientific rigour to practical improvement in residential care

• Proficiency in the Dutch language (required for this position, as fieldwork and interviews will be conducted in Dutch)

• Strong written and oral communication skills in English (for international publications and conferences)

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Experience with wearable technology and physiological data collection (e.g., heart rate, skin conductance, sleep monitoring)

• Experience in clinical or forensic settings (e.g., residential care, mental health services, forensic psychiatry)

• Interest in ethical analysis and responsible innovation in healthcare and social care contexts

• Track record of scientific publications or conference presentations (e.g., Master’s thesis, research articles)

Prior research experience (e.g., Research Master’s thesis on psychophysiology, stress, sleep, aggression, or related topics) and publications in relevant venues are strongly recommended.

Application Materials

Applications must be submitted online only via the Radboud University online application system. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Required documents typically include:

• Letter of application (cover letter) addressed to prof. dr. Robert Didden, explaining your motivation, relevant background, and fit with the de-escalation project and research group

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing education, research experience, technical skills, and any publications or relevant projects

• Academic transcripts (Bachelor’s and Research Master’s degrees, or current Master’s progress if not yet completed)

• Contact information for two references (names, telephone numbers, and email addresses)

• [Optional: Writing sample, research proposal, or portfolio if relevant]

All documents should be uploaded in the formats specified in the online application system (accepted file types: pdf, txt, rtf, docx, doc, odt, png, jpg, tiff, gif; max file size: 40MB). Applications that do not meet the formal requirements or are submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

How to Apply

1. Review the official job posting and project description

   • Read the full job posting on the Radboud University website to understand the research theme, requirements, and application instructions.

   • Note the position title: “PhD Position: De-escalation” and supervisor: prof. dr. Robert Didden.

2. Prepare your application documents

   • Update your CV to highlight relevant coursework, projects, and skills in psychophysiology, wearable technology, clinical/forensic psychology, behavioural science, and mixed-methods research.

   • Draft a targeted letter of application that connects your background to the specific project (psychophysiology of stress, sleep, and aggression in residential care), mentions any relevant lab or field experience, and explains your motivation for pursuing a PhD in this area.

   • Gather scanned copies of your academic transcripts (Bachelor’s and Research Master’s degrees).

   • Confirm your referees’ contact details (names, telephone numbers, and email addresses) and ensure they are willing to provide reference letters if contacted.

3. Access the online application portal

   • Go to the Radboud University online application system: https://www.ru.nl/en/working-at/job-opportunities/phd-position-de-escalation

4. Complete the online form and upload documents

   • Fill in all required personal and academic details.

   • Upload your letter of application, CV, academic transcripts, and referee contacts in the specified formats (PDF or other accepted formats).

   • Double-check that all files are correctly attached and readable before final submission.

5. Submit before the deadline

   • Ensure your application is submitted no later than 16 August 2026.

   • The system will not accept applications after the closing date; late submissions are not considered.

Selection Process and Timeline

The recruitment process typically involves:

• Initial evaluation: Prof. dr. Robert Didden and the research group review all submitted applications based on academic profile, research fit, technical skills, and motivation.

• Shortlisting and interviews: Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews (usually online or on-site) in the week of 24 August 2026 to discuss their background, research interests, and fit with the project and team.

• Final selection and offer: Successful candidates receive formal offers and instructions for contract signing and onboarding at Radboud University.

Key dates from the official call and summaries are:

• Application deadline: 16 August 2026

• First interviews: Week of 24 August 2026

• Employment start: 1 November 2026 (or by mutual agreement)

• Contract duration: Initially 1.5 years, extended to 4 years upon positive evaluation

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This PhD position offers a rare combination of:

• Fully funded, salaried doctoral contract with competitive Dutch salary (€3,059–€3,881 gross/month, scale P) and excellent employee benefits (holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, extra leave days, pension, flexible terms)

• A clearly defined, high-impact research project on psychophysiology, stress, sleep, and aggression reduction in residential care, with direct relevance to staff wellbeing, coercion reduction, and responsible innovation in healthcare and forensic settings

• Interdisciplinary collaboration with leading groups at Radboud University, consortium partners, and residential care organisations, offering exposure to cutting-edge wearable technology, mixed-methods research, and ethical analysis

• A vibrant research environment in Nijmegen, with access to excellent research facilities, state-of-the-art psychophysiology labs, and a strong network of researchers in psychology, behavioural science, neuroscience, and ethics

For candidates passionate about psychophysiology, wearable technology, stress and sleep research, aggression reduction, and ethically sensitive research in complex care settings, this is an excellent opportunity to pursue a high-impact PhD at one of Europe’s leading research universities.

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