Job opening: PhD in Methodolgy and Statistics

Tilburg University | Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

is looking for a PHD candidate

PhD candidate in Methodology & Statistics

Topic: Dynamic Mixture Modeling for Intensive Longitudinal Data

Department: Methodology and Statistics

Location: Tilburg

Contract size: 1.0 fte (40 hours per week)

Full-time gross monthly salary: €3.059 – €3.881 

Contract duration: 12 months with a possible extension of 36 months.

Desired starting date: September 2026

Do you want to contribute to the development of innovative statistical methods for intensive longitudinal data, such as experience sampling data? Tilburg University is looking for a motivated PhD candidate to advance methodological research on dynamic mixture models for intensive longitudinal data.

Your position

This PhD project focuses on methodological developments in dynamic mixture models for intensive longitudinal data. The project will be embedded within the Department of Methodology and Statistics and linked to the methods branch of the Tilburg Experience Sampling Center (TESC), an interdisciplinary research center focused on intensive longitudinal research.

The overarching aim of the project is to develop and extend statistical models that allow latent structures to evolve over time to better understand, predict, and measure complex within-person processes. The precise methodological direction will partly depend on the interests and background of the PhD candidate. One possible research direction concerns how statistical models can adapt as new data become available, for example, by improving individualized prediction or updating latent-state estimates in evolving data streams. Another possible direction concerns adaptive and personalized measurement, where questionnaire content or measurement structures dynamically adapt based on estimated latent states. The project combines methodological innovation with substantive applications in intensive longitudinal research and experience sampling methodology. An important component of the project also involves the implementation of the newly developed methods in statistical software.

The Department of Methodology and Statistics and TESC foster an open and collaborative working culture, emphasizing intellectual exchange, teamwork, and methodological innovation. The project will be supervised by Dr. Leonie Vogelsmeier, Dr. Mihai Constantin, and Prof. Dr. Jeroen Vermunt.

Your responsibilities:

• Your research work includes literature reviews, developing and extending statistical methods, analyzing empirical data, developing statistical software, and writing research reports.


• You will prepare scientific articles to be published in international journals, present key findings at national and international scientific conferences, and write a dissertation.


• You will actively participate in the Department of Methodology and Statistics and TESC.


• You will contribute to Open Science and Team Science.


• You will contribute to education and supervision (e.g., supervising bachelor’s theses and research skills groups, with roughly 10% of your time being devoted to such tasks).

Background

Researchers increasingly use intensive longitudinal data, such as experience sampling data, to study psychological, behavioral, and social processes as they unfold over time in daily life. These data offer unique opportunities to investigate within-person dynamics in, for example, emotions, behaviors, and cognition. At the same time, intensive longitudinal data pose substantial methodological challenges. Psychological and behavioral processes are often dynamic, heterogeneous, and context-dependent. Dynamic mixture models, including Latent Markov Models, provide a flexible framework for modeling such complex processes by unraveling unobserved clusters of occasions and/or individuals in a data-driven manner. These models can contribute to improved personalized prediction, adaptive assessment, and a better understanding of individual differences in dynamic psychological and behavioral processes. This project aims to advance methodological developments in dynamic mixture modeling for intensive longitudinal data.

Your profile 

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate with a background in the social or behavioral sciences and excellent quantitative skills, or with training in quantitative methodology, statistics, psychometrics, machine learning, computational social science, econometrics, or a related field. The candidate should have a strong interest in methodological research for intensive longitudinal and experience sampling data. Experience with or affinity for latent-variable modeling, mixture modeling, longitudinal data analysis, or adaptive and personalized measurement is considered an advantage.

Other Requirements

• A completed or nearly completed research master’s degree in statistics, psychometrics, quantitative psychology, methodology and statistics, machine learning, econometrics, computational social science, data science, or a related quantitative field.


• Programming skills (e.g., R, Python, Stan, or other languages) are a must.


• Research skills and data analytical abilities.


• Communication and cooperation skills and the willingness to work in a team.


• Project management and organization skills.


• Interest in open science and team science.


• Proficiency in English, including academic writing.


• Interest in providing small-scale education, such as teaching working groups or supervising bachelor’s theses.

Our offer 

Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• A position based on 1.0 fte (40 hours per week).


• A salary of minimum €3.059 and maximum €3.881gross per month for full-time employment, based on UFO profile PhD and salary scale PhD. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.


• This is a vacancy for for a PhD in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 8 sub b CLA DU. You will initially be given a temporary contract for the duration of 12 months.


• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.


• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.


• The opportunity to work partly on campus and partly from home with a home office allowance of €2 per day.


• Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.


• A monthly internet allowance of €25.


• An options model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave, more pension, a bicycle or personal training at our Sports Center.


• A moving allowance (subject to conditions).


• Employees from abroad may be eligible for a tax-free allowance for extraterritorial expenses equal to 30% of taxable salary.


• A pension with ABP; the largest Dutch pension fund.


• Training in personal development, career development, leadership, education, and research. Or a language course at our Language Center.


• A work culture in which we embrace differences, everyone is welcome and given equal opportunities.


• A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport.

For more information, see our Working at Tilburg University | Tilburg University and the CLA Dutch Universities.

Want to know more?

Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Dr. Leonie Vogelsmeier at [email protected].

Want to apply?

We kindly invite you to apply before July 6, 2026. Applications can only be submitted online. Address your letter of motivation to Dr. Leonie Vogelsmeier. Your application should include:

1. A letter of motivation, including research area(s) or topics of interest.


2. A curriculum vitae.


3. A transcript or list of courses and grades.


4. A sample of your academic writing, such as a bachelor’s or master’s thesis or a paper. If you are currently working on your master’s thesis, you may submit your thesis draft.

You will receive notification from us shortly after the letter selection. The first selection interviews are expected to take place in the week of July 20, 2026.

The selection committee consists of:

1.         Dr. Leonie Vogelsmeier, Assistant Professor

2.         Dr. Mihai Constantin, Assistant Professor

3.         Prof. Dr. Jeroen Vermunt, Head of department

The start date of the position is the 1st of September 2026.

About Tilburg University 

Tilburg University is an academic, inclusive, and engaged community. Together with nearly 3,000 employees, we are committed to broad prosperity, sustainably, and inclusion. For current and future generations. We develop and share knowledge for the requirements of people and our society. This is how we contribute to solving complex social issues and help society move forward.

We educate our 19,500 students of 110 nationalities to become responsible leaders with knowledge, skills, and character. With our education and research for broad prosperity, we exceedingly focus on themes such as mental and preventive care, an inclusive labor market, the energy transition, and digitalization.

About Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral sciences

Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (TSB) is one of the five faculties of Tilburg University. The teaching and research of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences are organized around the themes of “Adaptive societies, organizations, and workers”, “Healthy life span”, and “Personalized prevention and care”. The School’s inspiring working environment challenges its workers to realize their ambitions, involvement and cooperation are essential to achieve this.   
Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences | Tilburg University

Department Methodology and Statistics

The Department of Methodology and Statistics is responsible for education and research in methodology and statistics for the social and behavioral sciences. Methodology and statistics play an essential role in all subfields of the social and behavioral sciences, and related fields including data science and artificial intelligence. At the Department of Methodology and Statistics, we do research on and teach about computational, quantitative and qualitative methods that researchers need in order to answer challenging research questions, come up with strong research designs, critically apply statistical analyses, and avoid bias when interpreting research findings. Within the department, there is a strong focus on developing novel statistical and methodological techniques to tackle complex problems in the social and behavioral sciences. Link to our website: Department of Methodology and Statistics | Tilburg University

Tilburg Experience Sampling Center (TESC)

The Tilburg Experience Sampling Center (TESC) is an interdisciplinary research center focused on experience sampling research. TESC brings together methodological and applied researchers working on the collection, analysis, and interpretation of intensive longitudinal data across psychology, social sciences, health research, and related fields. The PhD candidate will be embedded within the methods branch of TESC and will have opportunities to collaborate with both methodological and applied researchers working on experience sampling studies and personalized assessment. You can find out more information on our website at experiencesampling.nl.

Application Code

Tilburg University uses the NVP job application code.

Disclaimer

The text in this job posting is the copyright property of Tilburg University. Use, distribution, and further publication of the job posting without the express permission of Tilburg University is not permitted, and this specifically applies to use by recruitment agencies not acting directly on behalf of Tilburg University. Responses to recruitment by non-contractors of Tilburg University will not be considered.