Vacancy for a full-time PhD researcher

Vacancy for a full-time PhD researcher (NL)

KU Leuven is an autonomous university. It was founded in 1425. It was born of and has grown within the Catholic tradition.

Within the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation research group of the Faculty of Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences at KU Leuven, we are looking for a PhD researcher (Dutch-speaking and holding a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy) who will contribute to the MULTIPREP research project (funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders). The PhD is part of an FWO-TBM-funded research project entitled “The added value of MULTImodal biopsychosocial telePREhabilitation for individuals undergoing lower limb arthroPlasty: the MULTIPREP trial”. In the long term, the TBM programme aims to contribute to the implementation of (new) therapies, diagnostic techniques and preventive methods that, due to a lack of industrial interest, would not reach patients without government funding. The PhD takes place within an inter-university collaboration between VUB, KU Leuven and UHasselt, together with international (Auckland University of Technology) and clinical (including UZ Brussel, UZ Leuven, ZOL and Ziekenhuis Geel) partners.

Project

The added value of MULTImodal biopsychosocial telePREhabilitation for individuals undergoing lower limb arthroPlasty: the MULTIPREP trial

Within this project, we investigate whether a multimodal biopsychosocial teleprehabilitation intervention can improve outcomes in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement. The abstract of the funded project can be found below:

Profile

• You are intrinsically motivated by the subject.
• You have a good command of Dutch and are fluent in English and have an academic writing style.
• You have good communication skills and can work well as part of a team.
• You are willing to take on 10% clinical work at UZ Leuven as part of your appointment.

Offer

• A full-time position as a PhD researcher within an inter-university collaboration between VUB, KU Leuven, UHasselt and Auckland University of Technology, as well as clinical partners UZ Brussel, UZ Leuven, ZOL and Ziekenhuis Geel. Specifically for this vacancy, this concerns a joint PhD position with KU Leuven as the main institution and primary workplace (and VUB as the partner institution).
• Subject-matter expertise and an international research network.
• A specific PhD topic and a developed study design.
• PhD training and intensive supervision.
• Research infrastructure and training in its use.
• Training and guidance in writing scientific papers.
• A pleasant and inspiring working environment with numerous team-building activities.
• A contractual appointment as a PhD researcher (100%) for a period of 1 year, with the possibility of a 4-year PhD trajectory in case of a favorable evaluation.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Liesbet De Baets, mail: [emailprotected] .

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.

Job details

Title

Vacancy for a full-time PhD researcher (NL)

2026-09-30 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)
2026-09-30 23:59 (CET)

Closing on: 2026-09-30 (Europe/Brussels)

Closing on: 2026-09-30 (Europe/Brussels)

Closing on: 2026-10-12 (Europe/Brussels)

Closing on: 2026-09-14 (Europe/Brussels)

Closing on: 2026-10-16 (Europe/Brussels)

KU Leuven is an autonomous university. It was founded in 1425. It was born of and has grown within the Catholic tradition.