Postdoctoral Researcher on Parenting in Times of Uncertainty

The Postdoctoral project

As a Postdoctoral Researcher on the PARENTALHOPE project, funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant (PI Patty Leijten), you will design and conduct a crowdsourcing study to identify interventions from different scientific disciplines that have the potential to increase parental feelings of hope about their children’s future. Because of the novelty of this research—there is no programmatic line of research yet on cultivating hope in parents—we need to consider expertise across disciplines, including non-published work and non-academic expertise. Crowdsourcing interventions allows for this approach in ways that would not be possible under the standard model of a small team of investigators identifying eligible interventions based on published literature.

 

What are you going to do

• You will design and implement a crowdsourcing study to identify interventions that have the potential to enhance parental hope.
• You will use systematic methods (e.g., Delphi methodology) to identify the most promising interventions.
• You will design and implement a forecasting study to understand the intervention features that shape stakeholder expectations regarding their effects.
• You will report your findings in peer-reviewed scientific papers.
• You will present your research at international scientific conferences.
• You will be an active member of the research team and support the work of PhD candidates in the team.

 

What do you have to offer

• You have a PhD in one of the social sciences relevant for this project.
• You received theoretical and methodological training across traditional disciplines.
• You have demonstrated expertise in research on hope or parenting behavior.
• You enjoy work that requires both creativity and a high level of precision.
• You are comfortable with research projects that develop iteratively and with directions changing over time.
• You feel confident in cross-cultural communication.
• You enjoy supporting the work of others.
• You have experience publishing your work in peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience with crowdsourcing, Delphi, and forecasting methods is not required but can be an advantage.

 

What else do we offer you

The appointment concerns temporary employment of 30.4 hours per week (0.8 fte) for a period of 3 years. The initial employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by two years.

 

The starting date is 01 September 2026. Your salary will be €4,728 - € 6,433 gross per month (scale 11,0; based on 38 hours per week), keeping with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

 

You will work here

The Research Institute of Child Development and Education (RICDE) is part of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Amsterdam. Dedicated to advancing knowledge on the development, learning, and well-being of children, the institute integrates cutting-edge research with real-world applications to impact education and care. We offer a dynamic environment paired with an informal and supportive atmosphere. You will work in an enthusiastic and warm team where initiative and input are highly valued.

When the future of their child is threatened, many parents increase the protection of their child, aiming to shield them from looming menace. Yet some parents respond differently. These parents not just refrain from protectiveness but actively encourage their children to explore and connect with others. Our current scientific models fail to explain this seemingly counterintuitive behavior.

The Postdoctoral project

As a Postdoctoral Researcher on the PARENTALHOPE project, funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant (PI Patty Leijten), you will design and conduct a crowdsourcing study to identify interventions from different scientific disciplines that have the potential to increase parental feelings of hope about their children’s future. Because of the novelty of this research—there is no programmatic line of research yet on cultivating hope in parents—we need to consider expertise across disciplines, including non-published work and non-academic expertise. Crowdsourcing interventions allows for this approach in ways that would not be possible under the standard model of a small team of investigators identifying eligible interventions based on published literature.

 

What are you going to do

• You will design and implement a crowdsourcing study to identify interventions that have the potential to enhance parental hope.
• You will use systematic methods (e.g., Delphi methodology) to identify the most promising interventions.
• You will design and implement a forecasting study to understand the intervention features that shape stakeholder expectations regarding their effects.
• You will report your findings in peer-reviewed scientific papers.
• You will present your research at international scientific conferences.
• You will be an active member of the research team and support the work of PhD candidates in the team.

 

What do you have to offer

• You have a PhD in one of the social sciences relevant for this project.
• You received theoretical and methodological training across traditional disciplines.
• You have demonstrated expertise in research on hope or parenting behavior.
• You enjoy work that requires both creativity and a high level of precision.
• You are comfortable with research projects that develop iteratively and with directions changing over time.
• You feel confident in cross-cultural communication.
• You enjoy supporting the work of others.
• You have experience publishing your work in peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience with crowdsourcing, Delphi, and forecasting methods is not required but can be an advantage.

 

What else do we offer you

The appointment concerns temporary employment of 30.4 hours per week (0.8 fte) for a period of 3 years. The initial employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by two years.

 

The starting date is 01 September 2026. Your salary will be €4,728 - € 6,433 gross per month (scale 11,0; based on 38 hours per week), keeping with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

 

You will work here

The Research Institute of Child Development and Education (RICDE) is part of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Amsterdam. Dedicated to advancing knowledge on the development, learning, and well-being of children, the institute integrates cutting-edge research with real-world applications to impact education and care. We offer a dynamic environment paired with an informal and supportive atmosphere. You will work in an enthusiastic and warm team where initiative and input are highly valued.

If you recognize yourself in this profile and are interested in the role, we look forward to receiving your application.

 

Applications in .pdf should include:

• a curriculum vitae.
• a letter of motivation in which you explain why this Postdoctoral project is a good fit for you + a copy of one of your scientific papers that you are particularly proud of.

 

You can apply via the red button until May 17th, 2026. Interviews will take place between May 26th and May 29th. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be given preference over external candidates.

 

For questions about the vacancy, you can contact: Prof. dr. Patty Leijten (p.leijten@uva.nl).