Persons with Dementia (PWD) prefer to stay in their own homes and to retain their independence for as long as possible. To support PWDs as well as their informal and formal caregivers, technology can play an important role to optimize safety and wellbeing. However, current lifestyle monitoring technology interventions aim to monitor static information (e.g. usage of home equipment) and often generate false alarms resulting into overcharging of both formal and informal caregivers.

The project's’ major research question is how unobtrusive sensor technology can be used to 1) accurately identify individual PWD and track and trace their behavior and 2) how music cues can be used to trigger daily behaviors and communication, while preventing potential obtrusion and privacy breaching. The ultimate goal is to optimize staying at home and to influence health and wellbeing in a positive way for persons with mild dementia.

In this project, funded by ZonMw ‘Create Health’ program, you will work in close cooperation with a PhD student from the University of Twente (dept. EEMCS); Nedap-Healthcare and healthcare center ‘de Posten’. You will co-develop and test the unobtrusive sensing and coaching system and explore: 1) to what extent unobtrusive technology can meet patient’s and caregivers needs; 2) the boundaries for privacy and ethics using observation technology and 3) how to generate data that can be used to trigger behavior.

You have completed a (preferably 2-year research) master’s degree in: Human Media Interaction; Interaction Design; Industrial design; Health-Psychology; Psycho- or Neurolinguistics; Neuropsychology; Health Sciences; Medical Informatics or an equivalent degree. In addition:

• You are highly motivated, have a creative, critical and pro-active attitude;
• You can deal with stress
• You have excellent social communication and collaborative skills in academic as well as non-academic contexts;
• You can work independently and can organize your own research, but you are also motivated to collaborate with others, including formal and informal care givers, project partners and ICT developers.
• Have experience with multidisciplinary projects (desirable);
• You have a strong affinity to and experience with health technology and methods that can be used for user centered design
• You are experienced in conducting research using various qualitative and quantitative methods, including literature research, interviews and user tests; and have excellent analytical skills
• Have research experience reflected in publications or a trajectory of potential publications on relevant topics
• Have fluent English language skills, both in writing and speaking;
• Have fluent Dutch language skills.

Information and application

Your application should include the following documents:

• A cover letter which explains your interest in the position and your qualifications for it;
• A curriculum vitae which included the name and email address/telephone number for (preferably) two or more references;
• A copy of you master’s thesis or, if it is not yet available, a summary and table of contents of the thesis.

Applications should be uploaded via https://www.utwente.nl/en/organization/careers/vacancy. Since only three documents can be uploaded per application, please combine documents if needed.

The application deadline is May 4. Interviews will be held from 14-15 May.

For additional information about this position you can contact dr. Annemarie Braakman-Jansen (l.m.a.braakman@utwente.nl); tel. +31-(0)53-4896047) or prof. dr. J.E.W.C. van Gemert-Pijnen (j.vanGemert-Pijnen@utwente.nl); tel. +31-(0)53-4896050).

We offer you a junior researcher position for 3-years (80%). You are expected to finish the project with a thesis and disseminate the results through publications in peer-reviewed journals, and presentations at (inter)national conferences. In accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities, the monthly salary starts at € 2.588,- gross per month in the first year, leading up to € 2.840, - gross per month in the last year, for a full-time position. Additionally, the University of Twente provides excellent facilities for professional and personal development, a holiday allowance (8%) and an end-of-year bonus (8.3%), and several additional benefits. The anticipated start date is June 15, 2018.

The University of Twente. We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which leads change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university of the Netherlands; divided over five faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes. We have a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out groundbreaking research.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Because of our diversity values we do particularly support women to apply.

Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social sciences
The Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social sciences (BMS) strives to play a pivotal role in understanding, co-engineering and evaluating innovation in society. Innovation is driven by advances in technology. Through 'social engineering' these technological advances are embedded in society befitting human needs and behaviour, within proper public and private management and business structures. For this the faculty of BMS upholds high quality disciplinary knowledge in psychology, business administration, public administration, communication science, philosophy, educational science and health sciences. All with a focus on the challenges in society. Research is strongly connected to our Institutes on Governance (IGS), ICT (CTIT), Health (MIRA) and Nanotechnology (MESA+).