PhD Candidate on Neurodiversity and Inclusion in Higher Education

Neurodivergent students often participate less, feel less at home and experience poorer wellbeing, despite their abilities and motivation. In this PhD project, you will investigate how teaching practices, sensory environments and social dynamics contribute to these inequalities. Using an innovative multilevel approach, you will move beyond institutional averages to identify where inclusion succeeds, where disparities persist and how universities can create more equitable learning environments.

Your job

IThe Department of Developmental Psychology has a job opening for a PhD candidate in the field of neurodiversity and inclusive higher education.

In this project, you will examine how educational, social and physical university environments shape academic participation, sense of belonging and wellbeing among neurodivergent students, including students with ADHD and autism. Students from ethnic minority backgrounds will serve as a comparison group, allowing you to examine whether contextual processes are specific to neurodivergent students or reflect broader patterns of minority inclusion.

Traditional research on inclusive education often relies on institutional averages or individual-level outcomes. This may conceal localised exclusion and substantial differences between student groups within apparently successful classrooms. You will therefore develop and apply multilevel models that treat group-level disparities in inclusion as meaningful characteristics of the educational environment. The project will distinguish universally poor environments from classrooms with acceptable average outcomes but large inclusion disparities, and will investigate whether high-disparity classrooms are associated with assimilation pressure, masking and a reduced sense of authenticity.

Your main tasks will include:

refining the conceptual framework and formulating research questions and hypotheses;

designing and conducting empirical studies in higher education and coordinating data collection;

examining teaching practices informed by Universal Design for Learning, the sensory environment and social inclusion;

developing and applying multilevel models that capture both average inclusion and disparities between student groups;

analysing associations with academic participation, belonging, wellbeing, masking and authenticity;

writing international scientific publications and a doctoral dissertation, and presenting your work at conferences;

translating findings into practical recommendations in collaboration with the USO project NeUUroinclusive Education and relevant university stakeholders;

Teaching/supervision of theses (max. 10% of your time).

Your qualities

We are looking for a curious and analytically strong researcher who combines methodological rigour with a commitment to equitable and inclusive education.

We are looking for you, if you have:

a Master's degree in psychology, educational sciences, pedagogical sciences, quantitative social science or a related discipline by the starting date of the position;

a solid foundation in quantitative research methods and statistics, and a strong interest in multilevel modelling;

excellent written and spoken English;

the ability to work independently, manage a complex research project and collaborate constructively in a research team.

Furthermore, your suitability is ideally demonstrated by:

experience with multilevel modelling, nested data and statistical software such as R;

knowledge of or demonstrable interest in neurodiversity, inclusive education, Universal Design for Learning or higher education research;

experience with open science practices, academic writing or presenting research findings;

sensitivity to diverse perspectives and the ability to approach research on minority groups carefully and inclusively.

Our offer

We offer:

the opportunity to work on an innovative project with direct scientific and societal relevance, embedded in the NeUUroinclusive Education initiative;

a position for 1 year, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment;

a working week of 36 - 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 3.204 and €4.051 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));

8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;

a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues.

The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.

More information

For more information about this position, please contact dr. Mateusz Platos.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply’ button.

Please note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. Our International Service Desk (ISD) can answer your questions about living in the Netherlands as international staff. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal.

The first round of interviews takes place in the 1st half of September.