PhD student ERC project Empowering expectations for

health and disease: Training the immune and endocrine

system, theme Clinical effects of training immune and
endocrine responses in patients with chronic inflammatory
itch and pain conditions"

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Institute of Psychology, vacancy 14-138
The Institute of Psychology at Leiden University comprises six units for teaching and
research: Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology,
Developmental and Educational Psychology, Social and Organisational Psychology, and
Methodology and Statistics. The Institute of Psychology offers a stimulating environment that
promotes collaboration within and between units.
The Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit is hosting an ERC Consolidator Grant entitled
Empowering expectations for health and disease: Training the immune and endocrine
system, for which it is currently looking for a:

Project description
The ERC project focuses on optimizing the role of placebo mechanisms and expectations (e.g.
conditioning) in health and disease by training the immune and endocrine system. In this ERC
Consolidator Grant of prof. dr. Andrea Evers (project leader), a number of PhD students and
senior researchers will be involved, with both experiments in healthy participants and clinical-
experimental research in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions
This specific part of the project focuses on the effects (e.g. report of side effects and clinical
outcome) of training the immune and endocrine system by means of psychological
mechanisms (e.g. expectations) in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions. There will
be close collaborations with different disciplines within Leiden University, the Leiden
University Medical Center, and other centers.

Task
You will be responsible for conducting different clinical-experimental studies of training
clinical immune and endocrine responses (e.g. by conditioning) and their
psychoneurobiological effects in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions. You will
write scientific, peer-reviewed publications, resulting in a PhD thesis. For about 10% of the
position, you will contribute to the teaching program of the Health, Medical and
Neuropsychology unit.
Requirements
The candidate should have:
a Master or equivalent degree in a relevant field (completion of the MA thesis before
the PhD project starts), including (health, medical or biological) psychology, health
sciences, or biomedical sciences;
high affinity with clinical and/or experimental psychoneurobiological research in
patients groups;
substantial knowledge of statistical methods and high analytical skills;
ambition as high-potential researcher aimed at excellent scientific research;
ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary setting;
social and organizational competencies;
proficiency in Dutch and English (or the intention to reach it within a short period of
time).
We offer
A temporary position for 1.0 fte at the Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit at the
Institute of Psychology at Leiden University. The salary level ranges between 2.083,- and
2.664,- gross per month (salary scale for PhD students), with additional holiday and end-of-
year bonuses. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax
break. Successful candidates will be appointed fixed-term for one year with possible
extension to four years (starting with a one-year probation period). More information about
the terms of employment can be found at: http://staff.leiden.edu/.
Information
Inquiries may be addressed to Prof. dr. Andrea Evers, head of Health, Medical and
Neuropsychology unit, or Dr. Henrit van Middendorp, Associate Professor Health, Medical
and Neuropsychology. Tel 071 527 3627, Email: a.breugem@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.
For further information about our unit and its teaching and research activities, please visit our
website: http://www.socialsciences.leiden.edu/psychology/organisation/hmn/.
Applications
Candidates should submit a letter of application stating the motivation for the position
(specifying the vacancy number), accompanied by: a curriculum vitae; the names and contact
information for two references (no letters); as well as copies of your academic transcripts (or
Dutch cijferlijst). Applications can be submitted until the 28th of May.
Interviews are scheduled to take place as soon as possible at Leiden University.
Please send your application (PDF files) by e-mail to vacature@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.
Receipt of your application will be confirmed by e-mail. If you have not received a
confirmation within three days after submission, please contact us directly at +31 71 527
3427.