Imke Baetens

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is recruiting for the Horizon Europe project SAMPO , focused on the online prevention of mental health problems and self-harm among adolescents and young adults. The project develops and evaluates a scalable app combining e-screening, personalised assessment, and online risk and resilience modules, in collaboration with European partners. Openings mentioned in the post include a PhD researcher position and a postdoctoral researcher position (0.5 FTE), plus a project manager role (0.4 FTE) at VUB. Research themes and keywords include psychology , mental health , digital health , adolescent prevention , self-harm , online intervention , e-screening , personalised assessment , and risk and resilience . For the project manager role, applicants should have a Master’s degree or equivalent experience in project management, research administration, international cooperation, or financial-administrative coordination. Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, Excel/reporting proficiency, and fluent professional English and Dutch are required; Horizon Europe or European research project experience is a strong asset. The project manager contract is temporary, part-time (0.4 FTE), initially for 1 year and extendable up to 4 years depending on project needs, performance, and funding. Salary is linked to the appropriate VUB grade and may recognize up to 12 years of relevant seniority. The postdoctoral role is part-time (0.5 FTE). No stipend amount is stated for the PhD/postdoc roles in the provided text. Applications are submitted through the VUB jobs portal. The post states an application deadline of 2026-07-01 for the project management role and asks applicants to upload a CV, motivation letter, and diploma where applicable. Questions about the job content can be directed to Prof. Imke Baetens.

The Faculteit Psychologie & Educatiewetenschappen at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is seeking a PhD student for a doctoral grant within the SAMPO (Scalable Approach to Mental Illness and Self-Harm Prevention Online) Horizon Europe project. Coordinated by the PRISM expertise center, SAMPO aims to develop and evaluate a scalable, tiered online prevention programme for adolescents and young adults, combining e-screening, personalised e-assessment based on network analyses, and modular online risk and resilience toolboxes. The doctoral research will be situated at the intersection of clinical psychology, adolescent mental health, self-harm prevention, digital prevention, and personalised assessment. The PhD project will focus on the development, validation, and implementation of the Psychological Referral Optimization algorithm (PRO), a digital e-screening tool designed to support early identification, risk stratification, stepped triage, and referral in adolescents and young adults. As a PhD researcher, you will contribute to the Belgian rollout of the SAMPO cohort and trial infrastructure, including recruitment, liaison with schools and partner organisations, participant follow-up, and data collection. You will support the implementation, validation, and refinement of the PRO algorithm, conduct quantitative analyses of longitudinal and psychometric data, and prepare scientific publications, conference presentations, preregistrations, reports, and project deliverables. The role also involves participatory co-design activities with young people and stakeholders, and dissemination to schools, youth services, clinical services, policy actors, and the wider public. You will be embedded in PRISM, the VUB network for Psychology, Research and Innovations for Mental Health, and work closely with the PSYR research group. The position is based at the Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene). Funding is provided through a doctoral grant as part of the Horizon Europe project. Applicants should have a relevant master's degree and experience with quantitative analyses, psychometric data, prediction modelling, mediation/moderation analyses, person-centred approaches, or network analyses. Motivation to work in adolescent mental health, digital prevention, and self-harm prevention is essential. The ability to collaborate with international partners, schools, and stakeholders is expected. To apply, submit your application via the VUB jobs portal using the provided link. Prepare your CV, motivation letter, and relevant documents. For further information, contact the supervisors or visit the VUB website.