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Institution: Leiden University
Location: Leiden, Netherlands
Faculty: Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Institute: Institute of Psychology
Supervisors: Prof. Carolien Rieffe & Dr. Marieke Bos
Application Deadline: 10 March 2026
Vacancy Number: 16392
Contract: 0.8 FTE (30–31 hours per week), 4 years
Program Overview: Social Belonging, Loneliness, and the School Environment
The PhD position within the Building 4 Belonging (B4B) Consortium focuses on understanding how the built school environment influences loneliness and social belonging among neurodiverse youth, particularly autistic high school students.
This interdisciplinary doctoral research examines how architectural, spatial, and sensory features of schools impact students’ experiences of inclusion, connection, and peer interaction. The project adopts a co-design research approach, engaging neurodiverse youth, educators, policymakers, and school boards as active stakeholders.
The broader goal is to reduce loneliness in educational settings and promote inclusive, diversity-sensitive school environments.
Core Research Focus Areas
This PhD project integrates multiple research domains, including:
- Social belonging and peer relationships in adolescence
- Loneliness in autistic and neurodiverse youth
- Environmental psychology and built environment studies
- Developmental and educational psychology
- Inclusion and diversity in school systems
- Sensory processing and school-based overstimulation
The research will examine how environmental factors such as overcrowding, acoustics, seating arrangements, and spatial design influence youth engagement during unstructured school time.
Research Methodology and Work Activities
The doctoral candidate will:
- Conduct an interdisciplinary literature review on loneliness in autistic youth
- Coordinate and implement co-design studies with students and stakeholders
- Use quantitative and qualitative methods, including:
- Questionnaires
- Focus groups
- Interviews
- Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)
- Publish peer-reviewed scientific articles
- Present findings at national and international conferences
- Produce a doctoral dissertation
Academic Environment and Institutional Context
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Leiden University includes five institutes:
- Psychology
- Education and Child Studies
- Political Science
- Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology
- Centre for Science and Technology Studies
The Institute of Psychology is structured around research themes such as:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Social-Cognitive-Affective Decision Making
- Development and Learning
- Advanced Behavioural Science Methods
The B4B consortium is a collaboration between:
- Leiden University
- University of Twente
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Candidate Profile and Eligibility
Applicants should hold or complete (in 2026) a research Master’s degree in:
- Psychology
- Family Studies
- Developmental or Educational Sciences
- Related social or behavioural sciences
Essential competencies include:
- Strong interest in neurodiversity and inclusion
- Ability to connect with youth from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds
- Proficiency in Dutch
- Collaborative mindset and interdisciplinary openness
- Clear communication skills and methodological rigor
Employment Conditions and Benefits
The position offers:
- 4-year PhD contract (initial 1 year, extendable to 3 years after evaluation)
- Salary range: €3059–€3881 gross per month (full-time equivalent)
- 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
- Pension scheme (ABP)
- Minimum 29 leave days (based on full-time contract)
- Flexible and hybrid working options within the Netherlands
- Home-working allowance
- Laptop and mobile phone (if applicable)
The university promotes diversity, inclusion, and open science principles.
Academic Field Classification
This PhD position lies within:
Broad Field: Social and Behavioural Sciences
Primary Field: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Related Fields:
- Social Psychology
- Environmental Psychology
- Neurodiversity and Autism Studies
- Educational Sciences
- Inclusion and Diversity Research
Summary
The “Building 4 Belonging” PhD lies at the intersection of psychology, education, and environmental design, with a strong emphasis on social belonging, loneliness reduction, and neurodiversity in school environments. It is primarily classified under Developmental and Educational Psychology, with interdisciplinary links to environmental and social sciences.
Apply now at : PhD candidate Building 4 Belonging: social belonging at school in neurodiverse youth (0.8 FTE) Job Details | Universiteit Leiden
