PhD Fellowship in Women’s Body Ownership and Family Contexts
Explore how parenting practices influence young women’s body ownership through interdisciplinary psychological research.
Best for:Best for psychology graduates with expertise in quantitative and experimental methods, interested in interdisciplinary research on gender, family dynamics, and developmental psychology.
Overview
This PhD position at Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) focuses on investigating how parenting behaviors—particularly perceived overprotection—shape young women’s sense of body ownership. Embedded in the ARC project ‘Situating the Study of Women’s Body Ownership within a Family Context,’ the research integrates social, developmental, and family psychology. The successful candidate will design studies, collect data, conduct quantitative and experimental analyses, and contribute to scientific publications. The PhD student will collaborate with a research team specializing in parenting, gender, self-objectification, and body ownership, with potential involvement in light teaching duties. The project aims to uncover psychological mechanisms like attachment and self-objectification to explain these associations.
What you'll do
- Design and execute research studies on family antecedents of women’s body ownership within the ARC project framework.
- Prepare and defend a doctoral thesis focused on the intersection of parenting practices and body ownership.
- Contribute to study design, data collection, statistical analysis, and interpretation of findings.
- Publish scientific articles related to the project and engage in science communication through conferences and seminars.
- Potentially assist with light teaching duties aligned with the broader research activities of ULB.
Requirements
Degree required: Master’s degree in Psychology or a related field (e.g., Social Sciences, Developmental Psychology, or equivalent).
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; good proficiency level required.
Instruction: English
- Strong background in quantitative and experimental research methods in psychology.
- Proficiency in statistical analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, R, or similar).
- Familiarity with social, developmental, or family psychology theories.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- No specific nationality or residency restrictions mentioned.
- Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent at the time of application.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-01 (Europe/Brussels)
Applicants must send an email to both Philippe Bernard and Stijn Van Petegem at the provided contact addresses. The subject line should clearly state the purpose of the application as 'PhD fellowship in psychology.' Ensure your email includes a CV, a cover letter outlining your research interests and qualifications, and any relevant academic transcripts or certificates.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover letter detailing research interests and qualifications
- Master’s degree transcripts or certificates
- Any relevant research publications or academic certificates
Contact
Philippe Bernard and Stijn Van Petegem· Supervisors
Create a free profile to unlock your personal match score, the full requirements, funding details and how to apply — in English or Persian.