Candidates to apply at FPU predoctoral research Grants at UIC Barcelona

28 Jan 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Department

Basic Sciences

Research Field

Psychological sciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Spain

Application Deadline

8 Feb 2024 - 23:00 (Europe/Madrid)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

37.5

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

UIC Barcelona is looking for potential predoctoral candidates to apply for  a 2023 FPU grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia Innovación y Universidades. The 4-year predoc grant will associate with the project " “Virtual-METS: multimodal immersive virtual reality training for improving cognition in adults with metabolic syndrome" with Dr. Maite Garolera and  Dr. Bruno O. Porras Garcia, as PhD supervisors.

UIC Barcelona is a prestigious university proposal that today welcomes more than 9,000 students. We offer a total of 16 official degrees, 30 double degrees and a wide range of masters, postgraduate and continuing education courses. It implements a research and knowledge transfer plan to contribute to the development of science and technology and improve the quality of life. The university has 24 recognized research groups in the areas of Health Sciences and Engineering, Social and Legal Sciences, Art and Humanities, and Architecture.

About the position:

The predoctoral researcher will develop his/her doctoral thesis in the C3-CST Lab and the BrainXR Lab research groups (together with UIC-Barcelona and Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, CST), in different research lines related to the use of new technologies to improve early detection, prevention and interventions of mental health and brain disorders, and under the direction of Dr Maite Garolera (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7443-8249 ) and Dr. Porras Garcia (https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0001-6759-2547 ).

One of the projects in which the predoctoral researcher will participate is related to metabolic syndrome (MetS) in older adult populations. There is an urgent need for alternative, non-pharmacological solutions to improve cognitive impairment associated with MetS. Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) technology offers a unique opportunity to improve traditional interventions and accessibility for populations with physical, cognitive, or emotional constraints. The Virtual-METS project aims to evaluate the effects of a multimodal IVR intervention that combines cognitive training and physical exercise on eighty-four adults with MetS, aged between 50 and 70 years, and with subjective cognitive complaints.

In addition, the candidate is expected to be involved in other lines of research and projects of the group in the field of digital mental health and mental health prevention and promotion. Another project the participant will be involved in aims to address the urgent need to prevent the onset of mental disorders in children and adolescents through the application of a cognitive training program and gamified virtual reality, designed for improving the regulation of emotions in this population.

Functions:

• Assist in the Bibliographic Review and Study Design of the group: Collaborate in the definition of the research methodology and select the appropriate tools and techniques for the study.
• Coordination of ideation sessions, co-design, and focus groups of the group's digital solutions: Facilitate workshops where multidisciplinary teams work together in the design and improvement of the proposed digital solutions.
• Data Collection and Analysis for the group's studies: Implement and supervise the collection of data for the studies conducted in the group, and subsequently analyze those data to draw conclusions.
• Contribute significantly to scientific publication and other dissemination activities: Contribute to the writing of articles, reports and presentations based on the findings of the project/s.
• Project Management: Assist in the planning, coordination, and monitoring of the different phases of the project, ensuring that the established deadlines and objectives are met.
• Teaching activities as stated by the basic science department at UIC Barcelona. Collaboration in teaching tasks will involve up to a maximum of 180 hours during the total length of the pre-doctoral contract (4 years). And in no case may it exceed 60 hours per year. 

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in psychology. And an official master’s degree in general health psychology, clinical psychology, neuropsychology, digital Health or related areas that provide access to Ph.D. programs. Important: the master studies must have been completed after 1 January 2020.
• Not having a Doctor's degree.
• Have obtained an average grade of at least 8.50 (out of 10) in the undergraduate/master studies (average score of both studies).
• Experience in applied research in emerging technologies and mental health, digital mental health, prevention and promotion of mental health, extended realities, eHealth, etc. will be an asset. 
• Experience in data analysis and knowledge of the use of statistical software such as SPSS and/or R Studio will be an asset. 
• Interest in collaborating in university teaching functions in the department will be an asset.
• The FPU grant criteria give additional points for winning national or international university awards in competitive calls; additional academic qualifications; foreign experience in university centers with collaborative grants such as MEFP, ERASMUS/SOCRATES; and knowledge of other languages.
• The FPU grant criteria give additional points for previous active involvement in research projects through contracts or associated grants, excluding honorary or non-contract collaborations; university teaching experience and research activities, including publications, conference participation and contributions to scientific events.

 We offer:

• Full-time contract as research personnel in training with a maximum duration of 4 years.
• Gross annual salary stipulated in Royal Decree 103/2019 (current salary revised annually: €19.026 gross/yearly for the 1st year, AND € 23.772 gross/yearly for the 2nd, 3rd , and 4th year.
• Reduction of enrollment costs for the doctoral program.

 For specific details on the evaluation criteria call for FPU proposals, please see: https://www.universidades.gob.es/ayudas-para-la-formacion-de-profesorado-universitario-fpu-2023/

Required documentation (applications must be submitted in a single PDF):

• Brief cover letter, please state the average score of the bachelor's and master's degrees.
• Full CV
• An academic certificate stating the average grade obtained by the candidate in the degrees that give access to the doctoral program (bachelor and master degrees).

Send an e-mail with subject (FIRST AND LAST NAME CANDIDATE - 2023 FPU PREDOCTORAL RESEARCH CONTRACTS) - with the attached documentation to [email protected]

Resolution: approximate dates.

Deadline for the call for applications: February 8, 2024

 

Requirements

Research Field

Psychological sciences » Psychology

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universitat Internacional Catalunya

Country

Spain

State/Province

Barcelona

City

Sant Cugat del Vallès

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

State/Province

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City

Sant Cugat del Vallès

Website

https://www.uic.es/en/faculty-medicine-and-health-sciences

Street

Carrer Immaculada, 22

Postal Code

08017

E-Mail

[email protected]

Phone

+34645482240

STATUS: EXPIRED