PhD position at Institute for Research and Innovation Parc Taulí I3PT funded by the TOUCH COFUND project

14 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Research and Innovation Parc Taulí (I3PT)

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: The digital transformation in primary care and specialized mental health centers through artificial intelligent/machine learning tools for the prevention and monitoring of patients at risk of suicide in Catalonia.

A PhD position is available at the e-Mental Health, prevention and epidemiology of neuropsychiatric diseases Research Group- Neuroscience and Mental Health research area from the Institute for Research and Innovation Parc Taulí I3PT under the supervision of Virginia Soria Tomás (Psychiatry) and Marc Fradera Jiménez (Psychology). We are looking for a highly motivated candidate that will investigate the digital transition in mental health care by preventing suicidal behavior in different population groups.

Suicide is currently the leading external cause of mortality in Europe and one of the main causes of premature death. The study of factors that may contribute to the detection of individuals at higher risk and contribute to a more effective suicide prevention. However, this is not enough to be able to predict suicidal behavior on an individual basis under the conditions of real clinical practice. Moreover, it is necessary to take into account the different population groups (adults, children, adolescents) and different clinical settings (primary care and mental health specialty settings). Primary care has an important role in suicide prevention, knowing that among people who die by suicide, 83% have visited at primary care in the prior year, and 50% have visited that provider within 30 days of their death, rather than a psychiatrist. Furthermore, it is well known risk factors for suicide are already available in the routine electronic health records (EHRs).

This is a retrospective, population-based study using the identified structured EHRs from Catalonia (Spain). We will analyze data from the electronic health records of Catalonia, an area with 7.5 million people in northeast Spain. The Catalan Health Service (CHS) provides public, universal healthcare to the entire population of Catalonia. We will review date of the period from 2018 to 2023. The objective of the present project is design a digital tool based on machine learning/artificial intelligence (ML/AI) predictive models that could prevent the suicide risk. The estimation duration is three years and the PhD student has to be involved in all phases of the study, including: i) extraction and integration of data following a validated clinical methodology, ii) predictive models development, adjustment and validation, iii) design and integrate a care platform design, iv) design and plan feasibility, clinical effectiveness and implementation assessment, and v) communication and scientific dissemination of results.

This project represents an excellent opportunity to foster the digital transition in mental health care by preventing suicidal behavior in different population groups

The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Psychiatry 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 research group "e-Mental Health, prevention and epidemiology of neuropsychiatric diseases " of the Institute for Research and Innovation Parc Taulí (I3PT), made up of 34 Parc Taulí professionals (18 PhDs), has developed in the last three years a successful strategy of growth and consolidation of excellence research in the area of neurosciences driven by an ethical imperative. The group has been able to attract talent and to form strong alliances with the INc (linked group CIBERSAM , Unitat Mixta UAB Neurociència Traslacional).

Since its origins, our group shows a sum of accumulated citations of more than 2230, and an h-index of 21. In the last 4 years the group has published 138 articles in Q1 scientific journals, of which 32 are D1. The lines of epidemiology and prevention of depression and suicidal behaviors, e-Mental Health and prevention and therapeutic evaluation of stroke and other diseases with cognitive impairment have been consolidated and have ambitious projects.

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:

The pre-doctoral research associate role for the suicide prevention AI project requires a degree in psychology or a related field, along with a foundational understanding of biostatistics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science. Candidates should combine a strong foundation in mental health with a keen interest in AI and related disciplines. Strong analytical, research, and communication skills are valued for effective collaboration and data analysis in this role.

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

Research and Innovation Parc Taulí (I3PT)

Country

Spain

City

Sabadell

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

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

Contact

State/Province

Barcelona

City

Sabadell

Website

https://www.tauli.cat/en/institut/

Street

Plaça Torre de l'Aigua, s/n

Postal Code

08208

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED