PhD position ‘Courage to Correct: Balancing Error Prevention and Learning in Strategic Crisis Teams’
Are you fascinated by better understanding and managing the societal dynamics surrounding crises such as violent extremism, pandemics, and natural disasters? Do you have a background in (social) psychology, communication science or a similar field? Would you like to conduct research within a large and multidisciplinary consortium on how societies can adaptively respond to various crises?
As part of the NWO Gravitation project Adapt!, we are looking for an engaged PhD researcher who is interested in the interactional dynamics within strategic crisis teams’ decision-making, particularly how they balance error prevention and learning under high-stakes conditions.
In high-stakes crises, strategic teams often aim to avoid errors at all costs. Yet this drive for error-free performance at a group level can unintentionally silence early warning signals on a personal level-such as when conflicting information during a bomb-threat response go unchallenged, or when concerns about rising intensive care unit admissions are dismissed. These moments illustrate how hesitation to speak up can undermine adaptation and decision-making when it matters most.
Research shows that effective teams require psychological safety: the opportunity to voice concerns and seek feedback openly (Edmondson & Bransby, 2023). Studies on error management climates demonstrate that treating mistakes as learning opportunities enhances performance (Horvath et al., 2023). However, crisis contexts differ: what counts as a ‘mistake’ is often ambiguous in the moment. Rather than clearly identifiable errors, team members are frequently dealing with potential mistakes or contributions that may be perceived by others as inaccurate or inadequate. Voicing such concerns or alternative interpretations can entail personal and relational risks. Moreover, even perceived or potential errors may carry heavy consequences in crisis contexts, and recent work suggests that an exclusive focus on error management is insufficient. Instead, optimal performance emerges from balancing error management with error prevention (Van der Byl et al., 2023). Emerging theory argues for performance safety-the freedom to speak up combined with awareness of the responsibility errors entail (Taylor et al., 2025).
This reveals a core paradox for strategic crisis team decision making: teams striving to be error-free may unintentionally suppress the cues that help them learn, adapt, and intervene effectively. This tension between preventing errors and learning from them will be centre stage in this PhD project.
The activities include integrating literature on psychological safety, error climates, and crisis decision-making, and developing a conceptual framework for communication errors in strategic crisis teams. The project will collect interview data and analyse crisis scenarios to identify patterns of communication errors and their impacts. It will also test the effects of these errors and their consequences in controlled crisis simulations through field experiments combined with post-experimental interviews. Finally, interventions and training methods aimed at improving communication and reducing errors will be tested in controlled crisis simulations, again using field experiments complemented by post-experimental interviews.
This 4-year full-time PhD, based in the Psychology of Conflict, Risk and Safety section, focuses on strengthening communication, learning, and error response in strategic crisis teams.
Information and application
Are you interested in this position? Please apply no later than 11 May 2026 via the button below and attach:
- a cover letter, highlighting your specific interest, qualifications and motivation to apply for this position.
- a detailed CV including contact details of two references.
- a written example to showcase your research and writing skills (minimum 2 pages).
Interviews are scheduled for 5 June 2026 (first round) and the morning of 12 June 2026 (second round) at the University of Twente.
The preferred start date of the project is September 1, 2026, but in consultation it is possible to start somewhat earlier or later.
About the department
About Adapt!
Adapt! is a team of researchers from different universities. Our goal? Building knowledge and expertise to help prepare societies for future crises.
The open society is increasingly threatened by crises such as pandemics, terrorism, floods, and earthquakes. The future of the open society depends on its adaptability to prepare for future crises. Adapt! investigates the role of cultural, social, and governmental capabilities of a society in building an effective and legitimate response to crises. Together with citizens and frontline professionals, the Adapt! consortium will translate research findings into tools and strategies that help societies navigate through crises. More information about Adapt can be found at: adapt-academy.nl
About the organisation
At the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS), we unite the worlds of people and technology to address today’s complex societal challenges. We are passionate about understanding human behaviour, fostering responsible innovation, and designing solutions that create societal value. Our educational programmes span disciplines such as Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences, and Health Sciences. Through our bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Professional Learning & Development programmes, and interdisciplinary research themes – including Emerging Technologies & Societal Transformations, Resilience, Smart Industry, Learning, and Health – we empower students and researchers to make a positive societal impact.
At BMS, we combine critical thinking with practical action. From advancing sustainable mobility with innovations like the world’s most efficient hydrogen car to shaping policies that promote digital inclusion, our work contributes to a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable future. Whether it’s exploring how technology influences human behaviour or leveraging data and innovation to transform industries and communities, we ensure that technology serves people – and not the other way around.
As an employer, BMS offers a vibrant, inclusive, and entrepreneurial environment where you can thrive personally and professionally. Join us and become part of a forward-thinking community that equips you to shape the future – for yourself and society. With us, you will become part of a leading technical university with increasing, positive social impact.
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