PhD StipendIntegrated Stipend in Volitional Personality Change

At the Department of Communication and Psychology the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities Aalborg University one or more PhD stipends in Volitional Personality Change will be open for appointment from September 1st 2026.
The employment will be a fixed term full-time position which will include both research and teaching activities.

The Ph.D candidate will join the research program: Can I Choose to Change Who I Am The Role of Volitional Personality Change in Youth Mental Health funded by the Carlsberg Foundation.

This research program addresses a growing phenomenon among young people: a motivation to actively change aspects of their personality. Traditionally personality has been viewed as relatively stable across the lifespan. However contemporary theory and empirical research on volitional personality change (VPC) challenge this assumption conceptualizing personality as in part modifiable through intentional efforts aligned with personal goals.

Recent studies demonstrate that individuals can successfully change personality traits through deliberate action with effects that persist over time. Yet this emerging body of research has focused primarily on traits largely overlooking other central domains of personality. One such domain is narrative identitythe internalized and evolving life stories through which individuals make sense of themselves and their lives. Both theoretically and empirically narrative identity appears to be more malleable than traits suggesting it may be particularly responsive to volitional change efforts.

The PhD candidate(s) will contribute to the design and implementation of a research project examining whether narrative identity is amenable to both short- and long-term volitional change in young adults. More specifically the candidate(s) will be expected to develop and evaluate an intervention aimed at fostering greater agency in the ways young people construct and interpret their life stories.

The intervention should target individuals who are motivated to strengthen this aspect of their narrative identity and the research design should assess whether increases in narrative agency are associated with improvements in psychosocial functioning and reductions in symptoms of psychopathology. Both immediate and longer-term effects of the intervention should be examined.

The intervention may be implemented in either a vulnerable population known to experience difficulties with narrative agency or in a broader community sample depending on the candidates specific project focus.

The candidate(s) is expected to develop strong competencies in quantitative research methods including advanced statistical analyses. Prior experience with such methods is an advantage but a clear motivation to acquire these skills is essential. A strong interest in personality psychology and clinical psychology is required.

Teaching

PhD students are expected to contribute to teaching activities by planning delivering and evaluating teaching within defined subject areas based on research and the intended learning outcomes of the study program. This includes the ability to assess the quality of their own teaching and where relevant to seek new knowledge and guidance to support pedagogical development. PhD students should be able to plan and conduct evaluations of their teaching using methods applied within university pedagogy and to collaborate with students in the teaching process. Participation in teaching-related collaboration with colleagues and engagement under academic and pedagogical supervision are also part of the role.

Furthermore PhD students are expected to demonstrate competence in conducting teaching supervision and examinations in accordance with course plans and programme learning objectives. Experience with teaching and supervision at one or more levels should be documented through positive student evaluations. Knowledge of one or more examination formats and the ability to assess the conduct of examinations are required as well as the ability to collaborate with co-examiners and external examiners in connection with examinations and assessment.

Research

PhD students are expected to develop and complete a PhD thesis at a level corresponding to international research standards within the relevant field. This includes the ability to produce high-quality peer reviewed research outputs such as publications in recognised academic journals and/or contributions to books or anthologies either as first author or under supervision. PhD students are also expected to actively disseminate their research to academic peers as well as to broader audiences beyond academia.

As part of their research training PhD students should develop a clear and well-defined research profile that demonstrates academic maturity and the ability to collaborate within their field of expertise. Engagement in research environments beyond the host institution is encouraged for example through shorter or longer research stays at other research addition PhD students are expected to build knowledge of external research funding opportunities and funding strategies as part of their academic development.

Your competencies

Teaching
PhD students contribute to a limited extent to researchbased teaching and/or dissemination activities within one or more subject areas.

Aalborg University applies a problem-based learning (PBL) approach. Documented experience with PBL (such as project supervision facilitation of group processes and development of PBL-based learning activities) will be considered an advantage. Candidates without documented PBL experience are expected to complete a PBL training course within the first year of employment.

The candidate must have the academic qualifications necessary to conduct teaching supervision and examination within the Psychology programme. Furthermore the candidate must have experience with academic/scientific work as well as problem-based learning and project work (PBL). Applicants can find information about the academic content of the programmes here.

Research
PhD students carry out an independent research project under supervision develop their own research profile and contribute actively to the research environments at Aalborg University as well as to national and/or international research collaborations.

Organizational and Academic Leadership
PhD students are expected to build and maintain professional working relationships both internally and externally. PhD students should contribute to a collegial academic environment by acting as sparring partners for colleagues and students in their daily work as agreed.

Active participation in the professional and social life of the department section and relevant study programmes (e.g. study boards) is expected. PhD students should demonstrate an interest in placing their research and teaching within a broader societal context and be able to communicate their research in ways that are relevant and accessible to external stakeholders.

Qualification requirements
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Masters degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years

Integrated PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who has not yet completed a Masters degree and who wish to begin the PhD study in connection with the Master study. Thus a prerequisite for acceptance is that the candidate is enrolled in a relevant Masters programme. The stipend consists of two parts A and B. During part A you are enrolled simultaneous in the Masters programme and in the PhD programme. The stipend consists of two SU-PhD Grants per month (SUThe Danish students Grants and Loans Scheme). One SU-PhD grant equals DKK 7.426 kr. (2026 level). SU-PhD Grants are paid for a maximum of two years. When the Masters degree has been obtained you will be employed for two years as a PhD fellow according to the present collective agreement. Part B has a maximum duration of two years.

It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Humanities in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. As part of the PhD study you are among other things required to complete PhD courses corresponding to 30 ECTS gain experience with teaching or other forms of knowledge dissemination and complete an external research stay outside of Aalborg University preferably 3-6 months at a foreign research institution.

PhD candidates must have achieved the grade 10 or above in the Danish grading system (or the equivalent in a different grading system) for their Masters Thesis/final exam. Please visit the website of the doctoral school for further information on admission requirements.

Who we are

The Department of Culture and Communication deals with human life in its complexity. We ask fundamental questions about life and contribute knowledge about how human beings create meaning interact flourish and participate in society. The Department has activities at both Campus Aalborg and Campus Copenhagen.

The position is primarily affiliated with the Section of Cognition Development and Clinical Psychology whose research focuses among other things on the following key themes within cognitive psychology neuropsychology biological psychology developmental psychology clinical psychology psychotherapy psychiatry and rehabilitation psychology.

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

• Application stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• If you are applying for a PhD stipend: Diplomas (bachelors and masters degree diploma including grades)
• If you are applying for an integrated PhD stipend: Academic transcript and bachelors degree certificate
• Project description (min. 5 pages). Read more about the project description.
• Applicants WHO are planning to complete a doctoral thesis in English and who do not have English as a first language or WHO have not completed an English language-based Masters programme (or an equivalent educational achievement in English) shall provide documentation that they have passed one of the following official tests with the respective minimum score: IELTS (band score): 7 TOEFL (paper-based): 600 TOEFL (internet-based): 100. The language test must be no more than five years old at the time of the application.
• Other relevant documents

The application must be submitted via Aalborg Universitys recruitment system which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg Universitys website.

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore everyone regardless of personal background and orientation is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions
If you have any questions about the position you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information

Further information about the integrated PhD Stipend (SSH)

Read more about our recruitment process here.

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline the head of the department with the assistance of the hiring committee will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires ensuring the safety compliance and integrity of the workplace.

Read more about The Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Humanities

Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (only in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish)

Allocation of SU-PhD Grants are according to the Ministerial Order on the State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme part 12 section II. This applies only to integrated PhD.

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers students and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights new solutions to societal problems and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.