PhD in MSCA Network: Studying Puberty in Individuals with Sex Variations

Gender-InSIGHT is an international network for investigating the biopsychosocial influences on gender during hormonal transitions, such as puberty and menopause. The network brings together a variety of disciplines, including psychology, history, ethics, endocrinology, neuroscience, and public health. Through co-creation and mixed methods research, the project aims to expand our understanding of the influence of biopsychosocial factors during hormonal transitions, both in the general population and in individuals with variations in sex characteristics, as well as in trans and gender-diverse individuals.

The historical, clinical, and societal lenses will guide the research: 

• The historical lens will explore the ethical and historical implications of changing perceptions of gender and hormones over time.
• The clinical lens will provide guidelines for healthcare providers on how to address gender-related biopsychosocial factors in clinical settings.
• The societal lens will investigate societal pressures and media communication surrounding gender and its biopsychosocial nature across cultures. 

This project falls within the clinical lens.

Would you like to know more about the different phases within the PhD trajectory? You can read more about this on this page.

In this project, you will contribute to understanding the factors that influence gender experience in individuals with variations in sex characteristics (VSC) during puberty. You will combine subjective and objective measures to study bodily changes such as breast development, hair growth, and voice changes, determining which factors are significant for gender experience. This research will provide essential insights into improving care and counseling.

The key responsibilities include:

• Collecting data on pubertal changes and gender experience in adolescents with VSC.
• Analysing data to identify factors related to care satisfaction and quality of life.
• Organizing co-creation sessions with healthcare professionals and patients to develop personalized care models.
• Collaborating with international expert teams, including Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen.
• Participating in two secondments in the UK, with DSD families to translate knowledge into patient tools. and with SDM registries.

We are looking for a highly motivated researcher with the following qualifications and experience:

• A Master’s degree in medicine.
• Strong communication skills with adolescents.
• Scientific curiosity and a keen interest in studies on the topic of VSC.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

Experience with clinical work in pediatrics or research is a plus, as is knowledge of Dutch or the willingness to learn the basics of the language.

Note: Important strict eligibility criteria according to MARIE SKLODOWSKA CURIE programs:

1. You must be in the first four years of your research career and not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment.
2. At the time of the application deadline, you must also have a  Master's degree and must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the three years prior to the contract start date.
3. A 3-6 month internship in another institution/country will be part of the Marie Curie project.

If you have not already done so, please visit the Gender-InSIGHT webpage to complete the eligibility screening questions for this application.