PhD position in Interdisciplinary Social Science

This PhD position is a unique opportunity to join the ERC-funded project “Strategic Care in Activism:
Mental Health Across Scales of Social Change” (Care2

Act) exploring activism and mental health. Working at the intersection of psychology and sociology, you will explore how individuals and communities maintain well‑being while engaging in collective action.

The project investigates social movements at different scales (local, identity‑based, and climate‑related) and uses innovative qualitative and participatory methods to study how care, strategy, and collective action interact in times of societal crisis. You will join a vibrant academic community and benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration across social psychology, sociology, and public health.

As part of a collaborative team of researchers, you will carry out a qualitative (observation, interviews, participatory methods) study with two comparable activist communities (preferably, in the Netherlands or Germany), and contribute to the project’s broader comparative aims. You will conduct qualitative fieldwork with two activist communities (to be determined collaboratively based on your background and interests).

The tasks include:

• conducting theoretical and empirical research on the project’s topic, resulting in a PhD dissertation and journal publications;
• participating in the teaching and research activities of the Public Health chair within the Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science;
• completing any necessary coursework required for completion of the PhD.

Working in a larger research project, teamwork and communication are essential. In addition to their individual work, you will contribute to regular project team meetings and joint conference presentations and academic publications.

Care2

Act Project description:
The current overlapping crises - political polarization, the climate, and security fears - present challenges for mental health and well‑being. Engaging in collective action is one way to cope, but research shows it can also be exhausting and increase sensitivity to these problems and injustices. But activism can also foster empowerment and solidarity. Decades of research have provided insights into factors affecting mental health outcomes for activists.

However, the traditional linear approach—focused on relationships between factors and outcomes—often fails to capture the mechanisms and dynamic processes that shape outcomes during engagement. Integrating psychological and sociological perspectives, Care2

Act will apply a novel interactionist approach to activism and mental health, employing the concept of strategic care to highlight the dual task of regulating personal well‑being while caring for the world.

Care2

Act asks:
Which combinations of situations and processes during civic engagement at different problem scales contribute to varying mental health and well‑being outcomes, and what strategies do individuals and communities employ to regulate their mental health and well‑being? Using a multi‑level comparative approach and innovative methods such as participatory Ripple Effects Mapping, Care2

Act will analyse:

Care2

Act will offer tools for interdisciplinary research that can inform studies on public health interventions, political participation more broadly, and the social integration of marginalised groups. It could also have societal impact by providing activists with tools to integrate mental health awareness into their strategies.

This research project is funded by the European Research Council (ERC). The principal investigator is Assistant Professor Dr. Anna Zhelnina. The research team will consist of the principal investigator, a PhD candidate, and two post‑doctoral researchers.