The TRANSSES project aims to answer the following three research questions, each of which will be the basis of a Work Package (WP):
- 1: To what extent and by what pathways does parental socioeconomic status (SES) influence levels of adverse cardio metabolic health and (precursors of) depression of their children during childhood and youth? (WP1)
- 2: To what extent and by what pathways do parental and individuals’ own SES influence levels of an adverse cardio metabolic health and (precursors of) depression during adulthood? (WP2)
- 3: Which types of preventive and other interventions hold most promise with regard to their potential health gains? (WP3)

For WP1 and WP2, Lifelines data will be used including data from interviews, questionnaires and physical examinations. These Lifelines data contains information about biological, social and family factors which play a role in potential pathways linking SES to health outcomes. In WP3, focus group discussions will be held with various stakeholders. The results of these focus group discussions and the results from WP1 and WP2 will be used to conduct simulation studies in order to answer our third research question.

ON this project, two PhD students will be employed. The first PhD student will focus on WP1, the second PhD student on WP2, and both will contribute to WP3. Currently, we are looking for one PhD student who is interested in WP2.

Eligible candidates should have the following qualifications:
- A degree in Epidemiology or in Medical, Health, or Social Sciences
- A passion for research
- Relevant experience in and affinity with the research theme
- Knowledge of and experience in (advanced) statistical methods for analyzing longitudinal data
- Excellent English writing and presentation skills
- Good organizational and communication skills, being a team-player
- Knowledge of the Dutch language is a pro

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. The UMCG can provide you with the vaccination, should it be required for your position.

In case of specific professions a ‘Certificate of Good Behaviour’ is required.

We offer a PhD position for a period of 3.5 years. The appointment will be at the Department of Epidemiology of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG).

Your salary is € 2.279,- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.919,- gross per month in the last year (scale PhD) for a full time position (36 hours). In addition, the UMCG will offer an annual 8% holiday pay, an 8.3% end-of-the-year bonus and a development budget. The terms of employment comply with the Collective Labor Agreement for medical centers (CAO-UMC).

Additional information
For additional information with regard to this vacancy, please contact:
- Marlou L.A. de Kroon, PhD, principal investigator of the TRANSSES project, e-mail: m.l.a.de.kroon@umcg.nl; phone: +31 (0)50 3616977
- Nynke Smidt, PhD, daily supervisor PhD student WP2, e-mail: n.smidt@umcg.nl; phone: +31(0)50 3617061
(Please do not use these mail-addresses for applications).

Department of Epidemiology and Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine

Department of Epidemiology, and Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine

This TRANSSES-project is looking for a talented, curiosity-driven PhD student with strong interest in interdisciplinary research. The overall aim of the TRANSSES project is to increase our insight into the causal pathways that link parental and own SES to health, taking into account work, family, and lifestyle related risk and protective factors over the lifecourse. This will be translated into cues for intervening in collaboration with professionals and citizens. TRANSSES strongly contributes to healthy ageing over the life course, by conducting advanced quantitative analyses and simulation studies using data from the three generation Lifelines cohort (n > 167,000) and exploring how to decrease socioeconomic health differences. In addition, qualitative research will be conducted to explore the potential for interventions.

This project is a collaboration project between the department of Epidemiology (Liefbroer and Smidt), the department of Health Sciences (Reijneveld, de Kroon, Bültmann, and De Winter) of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI; Liefbroer, De Beer, and Henkens), and the northern Municipal Health Services (GGD’en; Bleeker).