The Rehabilitation Research (RERE) group, the department of Electronics and Informatics (ETRO) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in close collaboration with the Departments of Clinical Nutrition and Geriatrics at UZ Brussel and the research group Behavioural Science and Social Innovation, Comprehensive Health Research Centre at NOVA University of Lisbon (Portugal), are looking for a motivated postdoctoral researcher to strengthen the interdisciplinary DYNAMO research line: Data-driven Nutrition and Movement Optimization for Healthy Ageing.
DYNAMO (https://rere.research.vub.be/dynamo-data-driven-nutrition-and-movement-optimization-for-healthy-ageing) brings together expertise in rehabilitation sciences, clinical nutrition, biomedical engineering, geriatrics and behavioural science. The programme aims to develop and validate adaptive, data-driven interventions in which exergames function as a central platform for integrating physical exercise, nutrition, metabolic monitoring, autonomic function, motivational support and personalised feedback. Within DYNAMO, exergames are used not only to stimulate movement, but also to create engaging, measurable and adaptive intervention environments that support healthy ageing and sustained lifestyle change.
The position is particularly suited for a researcher with a biomedical, rehabilitation, movement sciences or clinical nutrition background who has experience with personalised multimodal interventions, and who is motivated to help develop and evaluate exergame-supported lifestyle interventions combining tailored exercise therapy, nutritional counselling, motivational strategies and physiological monitoring.
Your role
As postdoctoral researcher, you will act as a scientific bridge between rehabilitation, nutrition, behavioural support and data-driven healthy ageing research. You will generate proof-of-concept data for new DYNAMO research topics, with a strong focus on exergames as an adaptive intervention platform for integrating movement-related outcomes, physical performance, exercise tolerance, nutrition, metabolism and behavioural engagement.
A key task will be to help define how exergames can be personalised based on clinical, physiological and behavioural data, and how they can be used to deliver engaging, measurable and adaptive lifestyle interventions for older adults and clinically vulnerable populations.
You will help translate clinical and physiological measurements — such as physical activity levels, exercise capacity, muscle function, fatigue, nutritional adequacy, indirect calorimetry, metabolic function and sensor-based movement data and exergame-derived performance and engagement metrics and exergame-derived performance and engagement metrics — into meaningful Digital Lifestyle Outcomes for older adults and clinically vulnerable populations.
Main responsibilities
You will:
develop and coordinate proof-of-concept studies within DYNAMO;
support studies using physical performance testing, exercise-based rehabilitation protocols, indirect calorimetry, nutritional assessment and sensor-based monitoring;
translate insights from complex rehabilitation populations to healthy ageing and frailty prevention;
collaborate closely with physiotherapists, biomedical scientists, nutrition experts, geriatricians, engineers and behavioural scientists;
support clinical and community-based testing in settings such as UZ Brussel (Healthy Ageing Consultation), the Autonomic Dysfunction Consultation, the BruBotics Rehabilitation Research Center, Living Lab for Rehabilitation and Innovation, Inkendaal and Just Move;
support the preparation of external funding applications, including FWO, MSCA, Horizon Europe and other strategic funding schemes.
Profile
The ideal candidate is a postdoctoral researcher with:
a PhD in rehabilitation sciences, biomedical sciences, movement sciences, clinical nutrition, health sciences, human physiology, metabolism or a related field;
strong expertise or interest in the interaction between physical exercise, nutrition, motivation and healthy ageing;
experience with personalised multimodal interventions, preferably combining exercise therapy, nutritional counselling and motivational or behavioural support;
experience with clinical or human-subject research;
experience with physical performance testing, exercise capacity assessment, functional outcomes, fatigue assessment, physical activity monitoring, strength or balance assessment;
affinity with nutritional assessment, indirect calorimetry, metabolic monitoring, body composition or personalised nutrition;
interest in digital health, sensor-based monitoring and data-driven clinical decision-making;
experience with feasibility studies, pilot trials, clinical trials or mixed-methods intervention research;
strong scientific writing skills;
motivation to work in an interdisciplinary environment across rehabilitation, nutrition, geriatrics, behavioural science and technology.
Experience with older adults, fatigue, sarcopenia, frailty, autonomic dysfunction, exercise intolerance, nutritional counselling, implementation science or personalised rehabilitation is considered an important asset.
What we offer
We offer a postdoctoral position (2 days per week, 0.4 FTE, start November 2026) in a highly interdisciplinary and clinically embedded research environment at VUB and UZ Brussel (Belgium), in collaboration with NOVA University (Portugal). You will contribute to a new research line on Technology-Supported Healthy Ageing, with a strong focus on the integration of movement, nutrition, motivation and physiological monitoring.
The position offers the opportunity to build on existing expertise in personalised exercise therapy, nutritional counselling, indirect calorimetry, clinical rehabilitation and digital health, while expanding towards sensor-informed and AI-supported healthy ageing interventions. You will be embedded in a consortium with access to clinical populations, metabolic assessment infrastructure, rehabilitation technology, living lab environments and international collaborators.
This position is particularly attractive for a researcher who wants to develop an independent postdoctoral profile at the interface of rehabilitation science, clinical nutrition, behavioural support and data-driven personalised care.
For further questions or information, you can contact Prof. David Beckwée.
To apply, please submit your CV and motivation letter (max. 1 page) to Rehabilitation.Research@vub.be, before august 15, 2026.