PhD position at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona funded by the TOUCH COFUND project

15 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)

Research Field

Psychological sciences
Neurosciences

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

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101126533

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

No

Offer Description

Topic: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and borderline intellectual disability children: cognitive, biological, and emotional correlates.

A PhD position is available at the Neurobiology of stress and vulnerability to psychopathology Research Group -Institut Neurociències from the Universitat Autònoma Barcelona and e-Mental Health, prevention and epidemiology in neuropsychiatric diseases Research Group from the Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute Foundation under the supervision of Roser Nadal , Silvia Fuentes (Psychobiology) and Montserrat Pàmias (Psychiatrist). We are looking for a highly motivated candidate that will investigate the emotional, cognitive, and biological correlates of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and borderline intellectual disability, adopting a multi-informant and sex-dependent perspective.

Children/adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and borderline intellectual disability represent a uniquely vulnerable population that remains insufficiently characterized. The proposed thesis aims to comprehensively study the emotional, cognitive, and biological correlates of these children, adopting a multi-informant and sex-dependent perspective.

Within the Parc Taulí University Hospital in Sabadell (Barcelona), an established clinical cohort of these children has been characterized with respect to certain individual and familiar genetic markers. This proposal involves administering various questionnaires to measure conduct problems, encompassing reactive and proactive aggression, emotion regulation, empathy (both cognitive and affective), and early adversity variables such as parental practices and stress-related measures in parents. Through computerized tasks, evaluations will be conducted on risk-taking behaviors, emotion recognition, and executive functioning (including working memory, sustained attention, cognitive flexibility, and planning).

Anticipated outcomes suggest that these children may exhibit greater impairments across multiple domains compared to children with only ADHD symptoms. Additionally, various moderators and mediators linked to oxytocin and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning will be measured. This comprehensive approach aims to provide a nuanced understanding of this special population's challenges and inspire the way for targeted interventions.

The TOUCH predoc will receive training in psychometrics and neuropsychological assessment, clinical interviews, biochemical and advanced data analyses. Additional opportunities may arise for extending training through participation in other group projects. The candidate's responsibilities will encompass conducting and analyzing data, drafting research papers, presenting results, mentoring undergraduates if needed, and active participation in group meetings.

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 supervisors are part of CIBERSAM , a network of excellence focused on the prevention/treatment of mental disorders and part of the Neuroscience Translational Unit INc-Taulí . Drs Nadal and Fuentes belong to the Neurobiology of stress and vulnerability to psychopathology Research Group-and are part of the Human Laboratory UAB . Dr Nadal is one of the co-PIs of the group that involves multidisciplinary researchers at the Institute of Neuroscience , the Dept of Psychobiology and Methodology and the Dept of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine. Their main strategic lines are: 1) Externalizing disorders and difficult temperamental traits in children/adolescents, 2) Biomarkers of vulnerability to developing these problems, including those related to stress mechanisms, and 3) Adaptation/standardization of instruments for the diagnosis/assessment of externalizing disorders. Dr Pàmias is the head of the Children and Youth Mental Health Unit in Parc Taulí Hospital with experience in ADHD, autism, eating disorders, mood disorders, self-injuries and Community Psychiatry in children/adolescents.

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:

Essential Criteria:

• MSc or equivalent in Clinical Psychology, Neurosciences or a related field.
• Since the research involves working with children and caregivers, the candidate must be proficient in Spanish from the outset of the program.
• Advanced in English at a minimum B2 level.
• Interest in learning computational science methods.
• Strong communication skills to effectively disseminate research results to diverse audiences.
• Other skills: Ability to work in a team, critical thinking, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience in working with caregivers and children as participants.
• Training or experience in conducting and analyzing Experimental and/or Clinical Psychology studies.
• Theoretical background in Psychobiology.
• Oral understanding of Catalan language.

The team is open to being contacted if candidates require more information about the position or specific requirements ([email protected] ).

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

Research Field

Neurosciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)

Country

Spain

City

Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona)

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

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

Contact

State/Province

Barcelona

City

Cerdanyola del Vallés

Website

http://www.uab.cat

Street

Campus UAB

Postal Code

08193

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED