PhD Student in Psychology

Örebro University is seeking a PhD student for doctoral training in psychology at the School of Behavioral, Social and Legal Sciences, with a preliminary start date in July 2026.

Project Description

The field of psychology at Örebro University is part of the School of Behavioral, Social and Legal Sciences (BSR), which also includes criminology, social work, and law. BSR offers a unique combination of main areas in psychology, criminology, social work, and law, enabling interdisciplinary collaborations, meetings, and exchanges of expertise, as well as excellent opportunities for interdisciplinary research projects. BSR offers independent courses and educational programs at the undergraduate, advanced, and doctoral levels.

As a PhD student, you will be a central part of a research project at BSR within the psychology unit, focusing on examining the reciprocal relationships between technology use and sleep in children and adolescents. The overarching goal of the project is to identify physiological and psychological mechanisms and causal relationships between evening use of digital technology and sleep, as well as to provide evidence that can serve as a basis for more accurate recommendations and interventions. The project is funded by the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Memorial Fund (link (https://maw.wallenberg.org/en/project/exploring-young-peoples-sleep-digital-world)) and is led by Associate Professor Serena Bauducco.

You will work in a diverse and interdisciplinary research environment where developmental psychology, experimental psychology, and clinical psychology converge with a common focus on sleep and health. The research project and its sub-studies are already planned, but you will be involved in the entire research process – from further planning and implementation to analysis, publication, and dissemination of results.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Planning and conducting three experimental lab studies with children (3–5 years) and adolescents (15–20 years) with support from supervisors and research assistants.
• Planning and conducting a longitudinal study with repeated measurements with adolescents (15–20 years) with support from supervisors and research assistants.
• Recruiting study participants in collaboration with research assistants.
• Data collection through surveys, behavioral observations, and physiological measurements (e.g., sleep measurement in laboratory and home environments) with support from supervisors and research assistants.
• Processing and analyzing primary data with support from supervisors.
• Collaboration with relevant community stakeholders, such as preschools, schools, and child health care (BVC).

Parts of the data collection will take place in a sleep laboratory during evening and nighttime hours.

You are also expected to actively contribute to the dissemination of research results through scientific publications and oral presentations in Swedish and English.

As a PhD student, you will be supervised by Associate Professor Serena Bauducco (main supervisor), Associate Professor Martien Schrooten, and Associate Professor Annika Norell at the psychology unit, Örebro University.

Education, Employment, Eligibility, and Selection

To view the full advertisement, visit: link (https://www.oru.se/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb/jobbannons/?jid=20260066)

Information

Further information about the education and employment can be obtained from Associate Professor Serena Bauducco, project leader, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

At Örebro University, we expect all employees to be open to development and change, take responsibility for their own work efforts and quality, show commitment to collaboration and contribute to development, and demonstrate respect for others through a constructive and professional approach.

Örebro University actively works with equal opportunities and gender equality, and we strive for our work environment to be characterized by openness, trust, and respect. We value the qualities that diversity brings to the organization.

Application for Education and PhD Position

You can apply for the education on our website by clicking the “Apply” button.

A complete application must include the following electronic documents:

• CV
• Copies of original degree certificates and official transcripts for the bachelor's degree
• Copies of original degree certificates and official transcripts for the master's degree
• Independent work (thesis)
• Other relevant documents, certificates, and diplomas that support your application
• Write 1) a short research plan where you design a study that represents the next step in research on children's and adolescents' sleep and technology use, based on this literature review (Bauducco et al., Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2024 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2024.101933)). Describe how your previous experiences provide you with a relevant background to conduct and contribute to the proposed study. Relate to concrete experiences, such as studies, work, essays, or methodological training (the research plan should be 3-5 pages, including references; the proposed study will be used as a basis for assessment in the application); 2) Also explain your motivation to work in this research area and what drives your interest in the project's themes (max 1 A4 page).

As a general rule, applications with attachments should be written in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English. Documents regarding qualifications in other languages must be translated by an authorized translator into Swedish or English. A list of translators can be obtained from the Kammarkollegiet (link (http://www.kammarkollegiet.se)).

An application for admission to education also serves as an application for employment.

More information for you as an applicant can be found on our Job Opportunities page: link (https://www.oru.se/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb/information-fordig-som-sokande-och-sakkunnig/)

The application deadline is 2026-04-27. We welcome your application!

As we have already made our choices regarding external partners and marketing in connection with this recruitment, we kindly ask for no contact from recruitment companies or ad sellers.

According to the National Archives' regulations, we must archive a set of application documents excluding publications for two years after the hiring decision has become final.