Doctoral researcher in Biological, Clinical & Health Psychology is available at the University of Luxembourg.

Overview

This PhD position is situated within the project titled "Deploying a Mobile Interoceptive Training to Reduce Somatic Symptom Distress" (DEPLOY), which is funded by the Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg (FNR). The DEPLOY project aims to investigate the mechanisms of interoception-based trainings to reduce somatic symptom distress and to translate these trainings into a mobile application. The successful candidate will join the Research Group "Brain-Body-Interaction" and the Clinical Psychophysiology Laboratory, which is headed by Prof. Dr. André Schulz, within the Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences. Enrolment in the Doctoral School of Social Sciences is obligatory for the candidate.

Role and Responsibilities

The role involves several key components:

• Recruitment, and clinically-psychological and psychophysiological assessment of participants from the general public and patients with somatic symptom disorders across five independent studies. This work will be conducted in collaboration with a postdoctoral researcher, three laboratory-based personnel, and two personnel in an ambulatory setting utilizing a mobile application.
• Assessment and analysis of psychophysiological data, such as ECG and photoplethysmography, alongside behavioural data (e.g., interoception) and self-report data (e.g., interoception, somatic symptoms, mental health) sourced from various sources.
• Co-development of a mobile application, working with a postdoctoral researcher, senior Principal Investigators, and external service providers, for the purpose of assessing and training interoception.
• Writing a doctoral thesis in Biological, Clinical and Health Psychology, based on original manuscripts intended for publication in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals.

Eligibility and Profile

The candidate should possess experience in, or demonstrate interest in, several of the following areas:

• Stress, interoception, and mental disorders associated with somatic symptoms, including medically-unexplained symptoms/somatic symptom disorder.
• Psychological assessment utilizing structured clinical interviews.
• Psychophysiological methods, such as ECG and photoplethysmography.
• Ambulatory assessment of psychological and psychophysiological data.
• Digital/mobile health technology.
• Theories, models, and current international research within Biological, Clinical and Health Psychology, including their overlapping concepts.

Applicants must also meet the language requirement of providing evidence of proficiency in English.

Application Details

• Contract Type: Fixed-term contract.
• Location: Luxembourg.
• Application Deadline: Not specified.