Scientific researcher

Organisation/Company Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Research Field Educational sciences » Education Educational sciences » Other Psychological sciences » Psychology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Final date to receive applications 14 Aug 2026 - 21:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike.

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located.

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again.

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

More concretely your work package contains:

• You will conduct research within the BILD research group in the field of parental involvement, self-regulated learning and technology-supported learning. You will explore how these elements influence the learning process in contemporary educational environments. The final definition of the research topic will be determined by mutual agreement between you and the supervisor, Prof. Valérie Thomas;
• You are willing to prepare and submit a research proposal as an FWO fundamental research fellow during the year of appointment, in February 2027;
• You will contribute to the organisation of meetings, research activities and other tasks related to your research project;
• You will also contribute to the functioning of the BILD research group and the Department of Educational Sciences by participating in academic activities and taking on limited administrative, organisational and teaching-related tasks, such as supervising master’s theses;

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.

• You hold a master’s degree, completed before the start date of the position, in Educational Sciences, with excellent study results.
• You have knowledge of the research domain of educational innovation, with a focus on self-regulated learning, technology-supported education and/or the role of contextual factors such as parental involvement. You are familiar with the main methodological and theoretical approaches in this domain, for example through courses taken during your prior education or through practical experience;
• You have a strong background in both quantitative and qualitative research techniques;
• You endorse the basic philosophy and educational vision of Vrije Universiteit Brussel;
• You have active knowledge of English, and possibly Dutch;
• You are able to work independently and in a planned manner, as well as collaborate within a research team;
• As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here .

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a contract, for an assignment of0.5

FTE, for 12 months (extendable, on condition of the positive evaluation of the research activities), with planned starting date 01/10/2026.

You’ll receive a salary linked to one of the scales set by the government.

At the VUB, you’re…