Professor of Social Decision-Making

Leiden University's Institute of Psychology seeks a Professor of Social Decision-Making to lead research on fundamental mechanisms of interpersonal and intergroup processes. Key responsibilities include developing a high-quality research program, securing funding, teaching at bachelor's and master's levels, and fostering collaborative leadership. The ideal candidate possesses broad methodological expertise, a strong publication record, proven funding success, and experience in academic leadership and teaching.

• The research within this chair focuses on the fundamental mechanisms underlying social decision-making, with particular attention to interpersonal and/or intergroup processes – such as cooperation and conflict, trust and distrust, justice and fairness, social and economic inequality, power and status, stress and resilience, and group dynamics and social influence.
• The chair complements the two existing chairs within SEO: Social Cognition and Decision Making ( Lotte van Dillen ) and Economic Psychology and its Applications ( Wilco van Dijk ).
• You will play a central role in three areas: research, teaching, and leadership.
• You lead a research programme of high scientific quality and broad societal relevance that fits this profile, and take a leading role in the strategic development of research lines of the SEO unit.
• You actively secure external funding, supervise PhD candidates, and support colleagues in strengthening their research skills.
• You develop and deliver high-quality teaching within the bachelor's, master's, and/or research master's programmes in Psychology, and contribute to the strategic development of existing and new teaching programmes.
• You use a connective leadership style that brings people, ideas, and initiatives together, and actively contribute to a healthy, stimulating work climate where colleagues have room to develop and grow.
• You actively advocate the principles of Open Science and Recognition & Rewards (see the Leiden Academia in Motion programme), and help strengthen a work culture centred on Team Science and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• You take on governance and leadership roles within the section, institute, faculty, and/or university.

• We are looking for someone who combines scientific quality with connective leadership. You recognise yourself in the following profile:
• You lead your own research programme with demonstrable scientific and societal impact within social and/or economic psychology.
• You apply a connective leadership style that contributes to an inclusive, reflective, and psychologically safe work environment.
• You have a genuine commitment to Open Science, Recognition & Rewards, and Team Science.
• You have broad methodological expertise, a strong record of scientific publications, and a proven ability to secure external research funding.
• You have experience with academic leadership, governance tasks, and building sustainable national and international collaborations.
• You have leadership and governance experience, along with the ability to help shape strategic issues and act as a figurehead for overarching themes and partnerships.
• You have teaching experience at the bachelor's and master's level, and a track record of successfully supervising PhD candidates.
• You have excellent command of English, and (near) native proficiency in Dutch, or you are willing to attain professional fluency in Dutch within two years (funding for languages courses is provided).
• Leiden University expects professors to hold a University Teaching Qualification (BKO). If you do not yet hold this qualification, or an equivalent, you are willing to obtain it within two years.
• You live in the Netherlands and are officially registered as resident, or you are willing to relocate upon starting the position.
• If you immediately recognise yourself in this profile, or if do you not quite meet all the requirements, but you believe that this is the right job for you, we look forward to your application!

• You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research.
• The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague.
• Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.
• We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.