Internship | Literature review coping strategies in late adolescence and young adults

About this position

This internship, starting from October, focuses on a scoping review on coping strategies in late adolescence and young adult which will directly inform stakeholders in the Ministery of Defense how young military personal can be best selected and supported during training and work. You will be part of an environment where curiosity is encouraged, ideas are welcomed, and you have the space to develop your expertise.

This internship is part of TNO's Next Gen Mental Resilience (MENS) program, which investigates how young military personnel develop resilience and perform under pressure in a rapidly changing military environment. The program aims to generate scientific knowledge that helps the Netherlands Ministry of Defence optimize the selection, training, preparation, and support of future military personnel, with a particular focus on strengthening mental resilience and sustainable performance.

As an intern and part of the MENS team, you will contribute directly to research that supports the future of the Dutch armed forces. The primary focus of the internship will be a large scoping review on coping and emotion regulation among adolescents and young adults. Beyond the review process itself, you will actively contribute to discussions on how coping and emotion regulation can be conceptualized, measured, and strengthened in young adults, and how scientific insights can be translated into practical applications.

The insights generated by this review will contribute to future training, education, and support initiatives aimed at helping military personnel perform and remain resilient under pressure.

• Extracting and organizing data from scientific articles.
• Contributing to the synthesis and interpretation of research findings.
• Identifying patterns in coping and emotion regulation research.
• Discussing findings with researchers and stakeholders to translate results into practical implications for the Netherlands Ministry of Defence and the broader workforce.
• Exploring how coping and resilience skills are currently taught, trained, and applied within the Dutch military in other projects within the MENS program.
• Opportunity to co-author a scientific publication.

There may be opportunities to align the internship with a Master's thesis, depending on university requirements and project needs.

• A relevant background, such as Psychology, Educational Sciences, Pedagogical Sciences, Health Sciences, or a related field (current Master or finished Bachelor degree).
• A strong interest in mental health, coping, and emotion regulation.
• Basic research skills (i.e., analytical/critical thinking, and writing skills).
• A proactive attitude and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Very good command of English;
  Dutch proficiency is an advantage.
• An affinity with the safety, security, or defence domain is considered a plus.

You will join the Learning & Workforce Development department at TNO in Soesterberg. You will work alongside researchers from diverse backgrounds, including psychology, educational sciences, neuroscientists and human performance research.

During your internship, you will gain hands-on experience conducting a large-scale scientific review, collaborating with experienced researchers, and working on questions that are directly relevant to the future of the Dutch armed forces and the broader workforce. You will have the opportunity to contribute to research with societal impact while developing your own research and professional skills in a supportive and collaborative environment.

• A professional and innovative internship environment in which you actively contribute to societal and technological challenges, working alongside leading experts in your field.
• Personal and dedicated supervision, with focus on your learning objectives, development and study assignment.
• Room to develop: you gain relevant work experience, develop both your subject‑specific and professional skills, and build a valuable network.
• Use of a laptop and the facilities…