PhD Fellowship in Pregnancy and Postpartum Coaching at KU Leuven

A fully funded PhD Fellowship in Pregnancy and Postpartum Coaching for a Healthy Future is available at the Department of Public Health, Development and Regeneration, Psychology at KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. The application deadline is March 2, 2026.

Research Area: Perinatal Health, Lifestyle Intervention and Mental Wellbeing

This doctoral project is embedded within the INTER-ACT-II program, funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). The project builds on the earlier INTER-ACT lifestyle coaching initiative and integrates evidence-based mindfulness strategies into digital perinatal care.

The research focuses on:

• Reducing emotional stress during pregnancy and postpartum

• Preventing postpartum depression and anxiety

• Promoting sustainable lifestyle behavior change

• Implementing personalized, app-supported health coaching

• Strengthening preventive perinatal healthcare systems

The PhD candidate will contribute to the development, evaluation, and implementation of an innovative digital and blended-care intervention targeting pregnant and postpartum women.

Research Context: Women & Child Health Innovation

The fellowship is hosted within the Women & Child research cluster and the REALIFE research group (REproduction And LIFEstyle for healthier families). The group conducts interdisciplinary research on:

• Maternal and child health outcomes

• Perinatal epidemiology

• Lifestyle and behavioral interventions

• Obesity prevention

• Digital health technologies

• Implementation science in clinical practice

The project combines clinical research, public health prevention, digital health innovation, and mindfulness-based interventions to improve long-term family health outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

The doctoral researcher will:

• Develop and optimize a personalized lifestyle and mindfulness intervention

• Design and conduct intervention studies and longitudinal analyses

• Analyze clinical, questionnaire, and app-generated data

• Evaluate engagement, adherence, and user experience

• Collaborate with healthcare professionals and implementation partners

• Publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences

• Successfully complete a PhD within the project timeline

Candidate Profile

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in:

• Nursing and Midwifery

• Psychology

• Biomedical Sciences

• Public Health

• Or a related discipline

Preferred qualifications include:

• Strong interest in pregnancy, postpartum care, and mindfulness

• Solid statistical skills (SPSS, RStudio)

• Experience in quantitative and qualitative research

• Excellent academic writing and presentation skills

• Fluency in Dutch and strong command of English

• Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams

The ideal candidate is organized, scientifically driven, quality-focused, and motivated to contribute to impactful public health research.

Fellowship Offer

• Initial 1-year PhD fellowship (extendable based on performance)

• Opportunity to combine research with real-world healthcare implementation

• Multidisciplinary and collaborative research environment

• Professional development opportunities, workshops, and international conferences

• Preferred start date: Spring 2026 (flexible)

Apply now at : KU Leuven Vacancies | PhD Fellowship: Pregnancy and Postpartum Coaching for a Healthy Future