PhD Position on “Enhancing effective crisis decision-making at the strategic level”

The department of Social, Economic, and Organizational Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Leiden University, invite applications for a

PhD Position in the context of the NWO Zwaartekracht consortium Adapt! (1 fte, 4 years)

The PhD candidate will be working within the NWO-funded Zwaartekracht consortium “Adapt!” and supervised by Prof. Dr. Daan Scheepers and Dr. Annabel Losecaat Vermeer (Social, Economic, and Organizational Psychology, Leiden University) and Prof. Dr. Arjen Boin (Political Science, Leiden University).

The overall project
The future of the open society depends on its adaptability to prepare for future crises. Adapt! investigates the role of cultural, social, and governmental capabilities of a society in building an effective and legitimate response to crises. Together with citizens and frontline professionals, the Adapt! consortium will translate research findings into tools and strategies that help societies navigate through crises. See https://adapt-academy.nl/en/

The PhD position

In most large-scale crises—the Covid-19 pandemic being no exception—policy and organisational responses are shaped by high-level crisis decision-making groups such as executive boards, government cabinets, and senior coordination bodies. Despite their important role, relatively few empirical studies have examined the dynamics of, and decision-making within, these groups under crisis conditions. Strategic teams differ from operational teams in several important ways: their members are typically less trained and experienced with the task at hand and often lack detailed knowledge about the specific causes of—and possible responses to—the crisis.

Using a series of group-based experiments, this PhD project examines group dynamics and decision-making in teams operating under crisis conditions characterized by uncertainty, novelty, incomplete information, time pressure, and high societal stakes. A particular focus is on leadership, including how leaders construe their power (as an opportunity versus a responsibility) and how accountability shapes team processes and decision-making.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and pilot a group decision-making paradigm and conduct a series of studies examining task process (e.g., information-sharing, advice taking) group dynamics (e.g., conflict, cohesion), and physiological indicators of stress and motivation.
• Collect, manage, and analyse behavioural and physiological data.
• Complete a PhD thesis in English within 4 years.
• Participate in regular meetings, and collaborative research activities within the research team, department, and Adapt! consortium.
• Publish several articles in peer-reviewed journals.
• Present research findings at national and international conferences.
• Participate in the Graduate School at the Faculty, the Adapt! Training program, and the national graduate school, the Kurt Lewin Institute.

Where you will work

What you bring

Required qualifications

• A master’s degree and strong track record in Psychology, Behavioral Science or a related discipline by the intended starting date (1 December 2026).
• A strong interest in team dynamics, decision-making under uncertainty, and human behaviour under pressure.
• Experience with, or strong affinity for, quantitative and experimental research methods, including experience with behavioural data analysis (e.g., R, Python, or similar software).
• Strong analytical skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate and communicate with both academics and crisis professionals.
• Ability to work independently while actively collaborating and contributing to an interdisciplinary research team, including principal investigators, postdocs, crisis practitioners, and fellow PhD students.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with group-based, experimental, or decision-making research.

• Interest in physiological measures of stress, motivation, or related processes.

• Proficiency in Dutch (which is essential for working with Dutch crisis organizations and professionals).

• Experience collaborating in interdisciplinary research environments.

What we offer

We also offer:

• We offer a full-time 1-year term position for initially one year. After a positive evaluation of the progress of the thesis, personal capabilities and compatibility, the appointment will be extended by a further three years. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities
• A salary between €3204 - €4051 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (PhD student);
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop and a mobile telephone.

What we value

Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. We strive to be an open community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to fully develop themselves. We consider an inclusive academic environment, where students and staff can share their experiences and viewpoints, to be essential for the development of talent.

Want to apply or find out more?

• In choosing between candidates, in case of equal suitability, preference will be given to internal candidates, women, the occupationally disabled and employees with a migration background.
• You live and are officially registered as resident in The Netherlands or are willing to relocate upon starting the position.
• A pre-employment screening (references, diplomas, certificate of good conduct (VOG)) may be part of the selection procedure.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. If you nevertheless choose to send us CVs, no rights can be derived from this. #LI-Hybrid