PhD Fellowship: Pregnancy and Postpartum Coaching Healthy

Organisation/Company KU LEUVEN Research Field Medical sciences » Medicine Psychological sciences » Psychology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Final date to receive applications 2 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract To be defined Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Apr 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number BAP
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

This vacancy is embedded within the INTER-ACT-II project, funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) under a TBM framework, and builds upon the INTER-ACT-I lifestyle coaching program. In this follow-up project, an evidence-based mindfulness component will be integrated, and the existing program will be further optimized based on previous experiences. This will result in a more personalized intervention aimed at reducing emotional stress in pregnant and postpartum women (primary outcome) and preventing perinatal mental health disorders such as postpartum depression and anxiety (secondary outcomes).

INTER-ACT-II adopts a primary, selective prevention approach, aiming to achieve a significant public health impact and a reduction in health-related costs.

The program is distinguished by its strong focus on personalization, technological innovation, and implementation in clinical practice. Through a user-friendly app, women can set personalized goals related to lifestyle and mindfulness, thereby enhancing motivation and promoting sustainable behavior change.

The PhD candidate will play an active role in the further development, evaluation, and implementation of the INTER-ACT-II intervention program and its associated clinical study, with particular attention to emotional stress and perinatal mental health in pregnant and postpartum women.

Responsibilities include:

• Contributing to the (further) development and optimization of the INTER-ACT-II lifestyle and mindfulness intervention program, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary research team and technological partners;
• Supporting the integration of evidence-based mindfulness components into existing lifestyle modules;
• Designing, conducting, and analyzing (intervention) studies to evaluate the effectiveness of INTER-ACT-II, with emotional stress as the primary outcome and perinatal mental health outcomes as secondary outcomes;
• Analyzing longitudinal and intervention data (e.g., app data, questionnaires, clinical data);
• Investigating determinants of use, engagement, and adherence within digital and blended-care interventions;
• Collaborating with healthcare professionals and implementation partners to support the integration of INTER-ACT-II into existing perinatal care pathways;
• Actively participating in meetings with the multidisciplinary and multi-actor advisory committee;
• Writing scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals;
• Presenting research findings at national and international conferences;
• Successfully completing a PhD within the duration of the project.
• You hold a Master's degree, such as a Master of Science in Nursing and Midwifery, Psychology, Biomedical Sciences, or another relevant discipline.
• You are scientifically driven and possess strong analytical and organizational skills.
• You have an affinity for pregnancy and a specific interest in mindfulness.
• You have a solid foundation in statistics (using statistical software such as SPSS and RStudio) and in both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• You have excellent written communication skills and can write scientific texts fluently.
• You are able to present complex research findings clearly, both orally and in writing.
• You communicate fluently in Dutch and have a good command of English, both spoken and written (e.g., for publications and presentations at national and international conferences).
• You possess the personal competencies needed to thrive in an academic research environment, such as flexibility, curiosity, and perseverance.
• You work meticulously and with a focus on quality, respecting academic standards, ethical guidelines, and deadlines.
• You are flexible, can respond to changing needs within the project, and are able to work independently as well as in a team.
• You show initiative, take responsibility, and are able to drive projects forward.
• You are a team player who collaborates constructively with researchers and practice partners and is open to guidance and constructive feedback.
• A 1-year PhD fellowship, extendable based on performance and in accordance with KU Leuven’s doctoral regulations.
• A challenging and diverse role within an organization with a strong societal impact.
• An enthusiastic and driven multidisciplinary team that values collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation.
• The opportunity to combine scientific research with practical implementation in a dynamic research environment.
• Space for professional development, including training, workshops, and…