PhD position at Health and Ageing Foundation UAB funded by the TOUCH COFUND project

14 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Health and Ageing Foundation UAB (FSIE)

Research Field

Psychological sciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Spain

Application Deadline

30 Jun 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

H2020 / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND

Reference Number

101126533

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

No

Offer Description

Topic: Enhancing Elderly Mental Health through Reminiscence Therapy and Robotic Companionship.

A PhD position is available at the Aging and Health Research Group from the Health and Ageing Foundation UAB under the supervision of Sara Domènech Pou (Cognitive Psychologist) and Ramón Miralles Basseda (Geriatrics and Gerontology). We are looking for a highly motivated candidate that will investigate the potential of non-pharmacological interventions for enhancing healthy mental longevity grounded in Reminiscence Therapy.

Strategies such as robotic assisted training will also be explored to provide cognitive stimulation and emotional support, especially in older people in residential settings. By leveraging technological advancements, this research aims to unlock new pathways for improving therapeutic outcomes. The project begins with a thorough evaluation of various non-pharmacological therapies, with special attention to reminiscence therapy and its impact on cognitive decline and emotional well-being in the elderly. Taking this valuable knowledge into account, the study introduces a cutting-edge intervention that employs robots to facilitate reminiscence therapy sessions. These state-of-the-art robots are tailor-made to actively engage with the elderly during their therapy sessions.

The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Clinical and Health Psychology doctoral program at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in the framework of the TOUCH project. TOUCH (“Towards the next generatiOn of excellent yoUng doctoral researchers on mental health by developing an intersectoral & transdisciplinary approaCH”) is a new excellent doctoral programme co-funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Actions of the European Commission and led by the UAB for the recruitment and training of 24 doctoral candidates in the field of mental health and wellbeing.

The Health and Ageing Foundation UAB conducts activities in the fields of health sciences, ageing and social and health care.

These activities are carried out through 5 organizational areas:

1.         Research in Health and Ageing

2.         Citizens and Patients

3.         Professional Development

4.         Consultancy and Ageing Projects

5.         Knowledge Management.

Likewise, in accordance to its institutional mission, the Foundation will be able to provide services of management in health and social-health care institutions.

We are looking for candidates with an excellent CV, ahigh degree of ambition and motivation, and with good personal qualities to work in our Team. We offer a 3-year full-time contract (37,5 hours/week) and a gross salary of 2.375 €/month (the salary will be the same for the 3 years).

The candidates must fulfil the following eligibility criteria from the EC: Mobility rule: candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately preceding the deadline for the programme call. Experience rule: researchers must be doctoral candidates at the date of recruitment, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the open calls. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible. Candidates must hold a degree that allows admission to the official doctoral programme at UAB.

Additional requirements for a stronger application are:

Academic Background

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, behavioral sciences, neuroscience, or related discipline.
• Master’s degree in clinical psychology, health informatics, digital health, or related disciplines were highly valued. Other disciplines in the context of the project will also be considered.
• Strong foundation in ethical considerations of healthcare, social and holistic interventions, especially with elderly population.

Skills

• Proficiency in designing rigorous research studies.
• Skills in data analysis, qualitative and quantitative.
• Desirable skills in human-centered design principles, codesign and cocreation methodologies.

Interested applicants should apply through the TOUCH online platform by submitting a full CV, a motivation letter, two letters of recommendation and academic and English level certificates. The call will be open from the 1st of April to the 30th of June 2024. More information about the TOUCH project, the recruitment process, and the application platform are available on the TOUCH website .

 

Requirements

Research Field

Psychological sciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Health and Ageing Foundation UAB

Country

Spain

City

Bellaterra (Barcelona)

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://webs.uab.cat/touch/

Contact

State/Province

Barcelona

City

Cerdanyola del Vallés

Website

https://www.uab.cat/web/fundacio-salut-i-envelliment-1345782349062.html

Street

Campus UAB

Postal Code

08193

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED