PhD Candidate 'Promoting social engagement: Using technologies to increase participation and...

This PhD-position is part of a larger project entitled QoLEAD - Quality of Life by use of Enabling AI in Dementia. QoLEAD is a new, NWO-funded research project led by Eindhoven University of Technology TU/e , characterized by interdisciplinary collaboration between Radboudumc/UKON, TU/e, Maastricht University, TUDelft, TNO, UMCG, Fontys HS, UT/Tranzo, Rotterdam HS, UU, Vilans, JAIN-TIGNL, Avoord, Zonnehuisgroep Amstelland, TanteLouise, SVRZ, CZ and VGZ. Its unique focus on the cross-section between healthcare and technology offers a challenging and inspiring work environment for PhD candidates. The entire project offers 8 PhD positions, spread across several work packages. As a PhD, you will work closely together with your work packages' team, as well as with the entire QoLEAD team.

Click here for more information about the project.

You are the researcher on this work package within the QoLEAD consortium, in which various universities and colleges work together. This work package is a collaboration between the University Knowledge network for the Older adult care Nijmegen/Radboudumc (UKON ), the ACC of Tranzo/Tilburg University and Eindhoven University of Technology. Two PhD students will participate in this work package; a PhD student with a behavioral orientation and a PhD student with a technology design orientation. They work together on the goals of the work package.

As a PhD candidate, you will coordinate a data collection and have a large share in the processing and analysis of the data. You contribute to (English) scientific articles and give lectures at national and international conferences. You will also work closely with other PhD students and postdocs within the QoLEAD consortium, the work package's project team and, very importantly, people from daily practice of long-term care: clients living at home, nursing home residents, their next of kin, care team employees and practitioners. Your work on the project is the basis for a PhD.

Specific objectives for the 'behaviour PhD candidate':

• Review the current evidence-base to provide insight into the social needs of people with dementia and their families, considering the various levels of analysis (micro, meso, macro), also integrating experiences and observations from living labs and Alzheimer Centers.
• Conduct interviews and focus groups with people with dementia, their partners, family, and other informal caregivers to gain further insight into their social needs and associated complexities.
• Create an overview of behavioural and psychological aspects that may facilitate or hinder social participation and engagement of people with dementia, both in their intimate relationships/home environment, and in society.