You will join The Methodology of Educational Sciences Research Group (CMPO/MESRG) at KU Leuven, one of Europe's most renowned research universities. The CMPO, part of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, is internationally recognized for its expertise in advanced research methodology, which includes both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Prof. Melissa De Smet leads innovative qualitative and mixed methods research in function of idiographic application in research and practice. You will join the line of qualitative research and innovation of methodology in function of young people.
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Responsibilities
Project: Together for Mental Health: A scalable, participatory and evidence-based mental health toolbox for Europe
Together4MH advances mental health promotion in education and work by integrating a curated evidence-based toolbox with state-of-the-art co-creation process. We support mental health promotion and prevention communities where people learn and work.
Empowered schools, universities, and workplaces do not only implement tailored interventions, but actively train and equip the next generation in an embedded and committed cascade model. This integrated approach delivers person-centred support across all ages, and includes a particular focus on young people in critical life transitions. We document the effect and the cascade scaling model through secondary schools, universities, public and private workplaces across seven European countries.
Together4MH mobilizes the consortium’s interdisciplinary expertise through four pillars:
Pillar 1: A curated, evidence-based toolbox for integrated individual, group and organizational interventions in education, training, and work. The toolbox supports mental health promotion and prevention, while also identifying particularly vulnerable groups with tailored interventions. The resulting standardized toolbox of interdisciplinary and evidence-based interventions ensures quality, comparability, and transferability across EU contexts.
Pillar 2: A state-of-the-art participatory co-creation framework ensures that the toolbox is contextually adapted and owned in each case, and that the case communities are empowered agents in both its local application and later scaling.
Pillar 3: A case-embedded and committed cascade scaling framework ensures built-in expansion to new cases while previous ones are still ongoing.
Pillar 4: A system for monitoring and evaluating the implementations’ effects across cases includes health economic evaluation and process measures. We produce the necessary data and evidence for European policymakers to support our integrated model.
This project is funded by Horizon Europe (Call: HORIZON-CL2-2025-01 (Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society - 2025)). KU Leuven is one of the European partners involved in this consortium and collaborates with the Catholic school network as the Flemish case within a school context. The different partners in this consortium work together to achieve the proposed objectives.
With the aim of timely and successful completion of the planned work packages:
- You contribute to the systematic review of existing evidence-based interventions to compile the curated toolbox
- You participate in shaping a co-creation framework focused on stakeholder participation
- You are responsible for the co-creative process in collaboration with stakeholders from the Catholic school network to locally integrate and disseminate the toolbox within the Flemish school context
- You coordinate local data collection and analysis to systematically evaluate the interventions and their implementation
- You contribute to reporting the results and translating them into policy advice and communication for a broader audience
- Additionally, you contribute to English-language articles for publication in recognized international scientific journals and actively participate in international conferences
Profile
- You hold a PhD in educational sciences, psychology, or broader within the humanities or social sciences
- You possess the following expertise and skills and are willing to further develop them on the job:
- Research skills in qualitative and quantitative methods, including data collection, data analysis, and reporting
- Participatory research principles
- Affinity with the Flemish school context
- Strong writing and communication skills to address non-academic audiences
- Ability to deal flexibly, creatively, and inductively with complex data collection and analysis processes inherent to participatory research
- Experience in writing scientific texts and/or research reports that meet academic standards
- You have a strong ethical compass and are willing to actively reflect on your role as a researcher in relation to co-creation with stakeholders
- You work independently, are results-oriented, and have strong coordination, planning, and organizational skills
- You have strong problem-solving and analytical abilities, with a research-oriented mindset. You can take initiative and excel both independently and as part of a team
- Additionally, you have excellent communication skills, with fluency in Dutch and English, both written and spoken. Only candidates with at least a C1 level in Dutch and English will be considered
Offer
Interested?
Apply via the online application page and provide the following documents:
- motivation letter
- academic CV (incl. publications and relevant experience)
More information can be obtained from Prof. Melissa De Smet, email: [email protected].
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
