PhD project PRIMA Predictors and Mechanisms of Risky Internet Use in Adolescence

Job description

The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/psychology offers a 4-year PhD-project, funded by Sophia Childrens’s Hospital entitled ‘Predictors and Mechanisms of Risky Internet Use in Adolescence’ (Project PRIMA).





PhD-candidate


For a project on childhood predictors and brain-behavioral mechanisms of risky and resilient internet use across development.

Internet: we all use it, especially adolescents and young adults. Some individuals have long screen times or show signs of problematic internet use (which includes gaming or social media use). In this project, the PhD candidate will study screen time and internet use in a large sample of Rotterdam residents. Several childhood predictors of internet use will be investigated, such as sociodemographic, family-related, and child-specific variables.

Additionally, this study will examine the longitudinal and bidirectional effects of mental health and internet use. Furthermore, this study aims to identify profiles of adolescent who show resilient and risky internet use. Finally, this project aims to determine how brain measures (using MRI) mediate pathways that are related to internet use.

The project will be embedded in the population-based Generation R Study, which has been collecting behavioural, cognitive, and neuroimaging information on over 5000 children since foetal life. The PhD candidate will be supervised by Dr. Hanan El Marroun (promotor), Dr. Miranda C. Lutz (co-promoter) and Dr. Ryan Muetzel (co-promoter).

Work environment

The PhD student will be employed at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, which focuses on patient care, teaching and research activities to improve child and adolescent mental health. A key aim of the department is to study the frequency, determinants and course of child psychiatric disorders, using epidemiological methods in the general population, in populations at risk, and in clinical samples.

Since this project has important implication for professionals and parents, a substantial part of the project involves the knowledge dissemination obtained from the research conducted by the PhD candidate. This project is in collaboration with Erasmus University Rotterdam, where the PhD candidate will be embedded in the Center for Substance use and Addiction Research Rotterdam (CeSAR).

Qualifications and skills

The candidate will be required to:

• Collect data.
• Conduct analyses.
• Present work at internal and external meetings.
• To publish findings in international scientific journals.

Proficiency in Dutch and English is therefore required. A Master of Science program in (Clinical) Epidemiology at postgraduate level at the NIHES in Rotterdam can be part of the training. The candidate works with a large team of colleagues analyzing child behavior and cognition, (epi-)genetic, and brain imaging data. This project is funded by the Erasmus MC Sophia Foundation.

Being able to present a certificate of good conduct, a valid proof of identity, and diploma's are conditions for the appointment.

Further qualifications:

• MSc degree in Medicine, Biomedical sciences, Psychology, Neurosciences or a related discipline.
• Affinity with scientific questions around brain development, mental health and cognition, as well as biological mechanisms.
• Analytical mindset and skills.
• Experience in quantitative research is an advantage, preferably in epidemiological research.
• Working well in a team.
• Ability to work independently and develop initiative.
• Above average computer skills, preferably with programming experience (e.g. R).
• Excellent writing and presenting skills.
• Proficiency in Dutch and English.

Before you apply please check our conditions for employment.

Terms of employment

• You will receive a temporary position for 1 year. A 3 year extension will be offered on proven ability.
• The gross monthly salary is between € 3.017,- and € 3.824,- (Schaal OIO), based on a full-time working week of 36 hours.
• Excellent fringe benefits, such as a 13th month that is already paid out in November and an individual travel expense package.
• Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 2/3 of the monthly contribution.
• Special benefits, such as a in-company physiotherapist and bicycle repairer.
• And there is also a gym where you can work on your fitness after work.

The terms of employment are in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Medical Centers (CAO UMC).

More information

First round of job interviews will be held in the week of February 3rd. A second, provisional round of interviews in the week of February 10th. The position starts on April 1st.

For more information about this position, please contact dr. Hanan El Marroun, professor at the department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: h.marrounel@erasmusmc.nl or dr. Miranda C. Lutz, assistant professor Clinical Psychology Erasmus University Rotterdam: lutz@essb.eur.nl.

No agencies please.