Assistant Professor in Developmental & Educational Psychology; FTE

Assistant Professor in Developmental & Educational Psychology (0.8-1.0 FTE)

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is one of Europe’s leading international research universities.

Applying is possible until: 10 maart 2026

The Developmental and Educational Psychology unit of the Institute of Psychology invites applications for an Assistant Professor who will contribute to research, education, and societal impact focused on the development and resilience of young people. We are seeking an early‑career scientist who combines methodological rigor with a strong commitment to co‑creative, impact‑oriented research and high‑quality academic teaching.

Our unit studies developmental processes from childhood through adolescence and emerging adulthood, with a focus on the interplay between biological factors and social contexts, including family, peers, schools, and society. We offer engaging teaching programmes in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Psychology, in which we train students in clinical skills relevant to clinical and educational practice, and in the development of strong research competencies, preparing students for academic and applied careers.

Our research is integrated with the aim of supporting young people in thriving safely, healthily, and with equal opportunities. Research within the unit is organized around two closely connected research areas. The first area focuses on young lives and social worlds, examining learning, decision‑making, belonging, and participation in real‑world contexts such as classrooms, peer groups, families, and online environments. The second area focuses on rethinking youth mental health, integrating developmental, transdiagnostic, and individual‑differences approaches to understand risk and protective mechanisms and to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies across educational and clinical settings.

The unit collaborates with a broad range of initiatives, including those within the Leiden Healthy Society Center (LHSC) and the Leiden University Treatment Clinic (LUBEC).

The successful candidate will develop and conduct research contributing to the unit‑based strategic research areas and strengthen our contribution to the national Sector Plan Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) Resilience in Youth, a dynamic consortium that connects early‑career researchers and advances knowledge on resilience, wellbeing, and participation of young people in today’s complex and rapidly changing social world, while accelerating the translation of research into tangible tools, practices, and public knowledge that meaningfully support young people’s wellbeing, opportunities, and participation.

In addition, you will contribute to education within the Psychology Bachelor’s program and/or the MSc programs Child and Adolescent Psychology, School Psychology, and the Research Master Developmental Psychology. Your teaching will focus on school, clinical and/or societal contexts. We value teaching that connects scientific knowledge to educational and clinical practice and prepares students for both professional practice and research careers at the intersection of education, youth mental health, and societal challenges.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences consists of five institutes: the Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Education and Child Studies, Political Science, and Psychology. The faculty is home to approximately 7,000 students and 1,000 staff members. Our institutes are dedicated not only to education but also to groundbreaking research that expands our understanding of human behaviour and societal structures.

What makes our faculty unique is the diversity of research topics, the variety of teaching approaches, and the structure of professional support. This provides you with the opportunity to explore and develop your interests and expertise. For an introduction to our faculty, visit our website:
Welcome to the Leiden Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences – Leiden…