This PhD-position is part of a larger project entitled QoLEAD - Quality of Life by use of Enabling AI in Dementia. QoLEAD is a new, NWO-funded research project led by Eindhoven University of Technology TU/e, characterized by interdisciplinary collaboration between Radboudumc/UKON, TU/e, Maastricht University, TUDelft, TNO, UMCG, Fontys HS, UT/Tranzo, Rotterdam HS, UU, Vilans, JAIN-TIGNL, Avoord, Zonnehuisgroep Amstelland, TanteLouise, SVRZ, CZ and VGZ. Its unique focus on the cross-section between healthcare and technology offers a challenging and inspiring work environment for PhD candidates. The entire project offers 8 PhD positions, spread across several work packages. As a PhD, you will work closely together with your work packages' team, as well as with the entire QoLEAD team.

Click here for more information about the project.

You are the researcher on this work package within the QoLEAD consortium, in which various universities and colleges work together. This work package is a collaboration between the University Knowledge network for the Older adult care Nijmegen/Radboudumc (UKON), the ACC of Tranzo/Tilburg University and Eindhoven University of Technology. Two PhD students will participate in this work package; a PhD student with a behavioral orientation and a PhD student with a technology design orientation. They work together on the goals of the work package.

As a PhD candidate, you will coordinate a data collection and have a large share in the processing and analysis of the data. You contribute to (English) scientific articles and give lectures at national and international conferences. You will also work closely with other PhD students and postdocs within the QoLEAD consortium, the work package's project team and, very importantly, people from daily practice of long-term care: clients living at home, nursing home residents, their next of kin, care team employees and practitioners. Your work on the project is the basis for a PhD.

Specific objectives for the 'behaviour PhD candidate':

• Review the current evidence-base to provide insight into the social needs of people with dementia and their families, considering the various levels of analysis (micro, meso, macro), also integrating experiences and observations from living labs and Alzheimer Centers.
• Conduct interviews and focus groups with people with dementia, their partners, family, and other informal caregivers to gain further insight into their social needs and associated complexities.
• Create an overview of behavioural and psychological aspects that may facilitate or hinder social participation and engagement of people with dementia, both in their intimate relationships/home environment, and in society.

Eligible candidates should have a master's degree in social sciences, anthropology, health sciences or a related field. Graduation from a research master is a plus.

In addition, candidates should:

• Have affinity with (the care for) people with dementia.
• Have excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Have excellent social, communication and collaboration skills.
• Be motivated to conduct research in a challenging, multidisciplinary environment.
• Be willing and able to think 'outside the box' and outside one's own discipline.
• Have strong analytic and conceptual skills.
• Have excellent English writing and presentation skills.
• Speak Dutch.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Working at Radboud university medical center means that you are ahead of the curve and working together on the healthcare of the future. And there is more. Our secondary terms of employment are impressive. These are fully tailored to you thanks to our Employment Conditions Selection Model. At Radboud university medical center, you will be given trust, and you will take the responsibility to handle everything together.

• A gross monthly salary between € 2.631 and € 3.336 (scale 10A) based on full-time employment.
• An annual vacation allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• If you work irregular hours, you will receive an allowance.
• As a full-time employee (36 hours per week), you are entitled to approximately 168 vacation hours (over 23 days) per year.
• Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. You pay the rest of the premium with your gross salary.
• You get a discount on health insurance as well: you can take advantage of two group health insurance plans. UMC Zorgverzekering and CZ collectief.
• We provide annual courses, both professional and personal.

In addition to our terms of employment, we also offer employees various other attractive facilities, such as childcare and sports facilities. Want to learn more? Take a look at the CAO UMC.

Radboudumc

The Department of Primary and Community Care is the connecting partner in regional and national transmural care. We strive for good, accessible and coherent care and prevention, in one's own environment for as much as possible: empowerment where possible, care where necessary. In this, we continuously strive for innovation. Worldwide, the Department of Primary and Community Care at Radboudumc is one of the leading departments in its field.

In close collaboration with care partners we conduct scientific and practice-oriented research and teach in the academic programs in Medicine and Health Sciences. We also train general practitioners, occupational and insurance physicians, elderly care physicians and addiction physicians.

From its core tasks of research, education and training, the Department of Primary and Community Care focuses specifically on person-centered care and communication, transmural and interprofessional collaboration, prevention, diversity, participation and vulnerable groups.

For both employees and managers, themes such as vitality, job satisfaction, talent development, social engagement and visibility are central to working at the Department of Primary and Community Care. Working here means working in a leading, ambitious and pleasant environment. Collaboration, talent development, excellence and the human touch are our guiding principles.

The University Knowledge network for Older adult care Nijmegen UKON is a collaboration between the department of Primary and Community care and 19 long-term care organizations. The aim of the UKON is to improve the quality of care and the quality of life for frail older adults and people with chronic illnesses, who need intensive care and support, at home or in institutions, such as a nursing home. UKON develops knowledge, disseminates knowledge and applies knowledge in practice together with the 19 affiliated care organizations.

The Academic Collaborative Center (ACC) Older Adults is part of the Tranzo department, Tilburg University. It is a structural partnership between Tilburg University and 11 organizations in long-term elderly care. Tranzo's ACC aims to develop scientific knowledge and put it into practice, in order to make elderly care more person-centered. Within the ACC, researchers, healthcare professionals, education professionals and older persons work together to achieve this goal.

Radboudumc
Radboud university medical center is a university medical center for patient care, scientific research, and education in Nijmegen. Radboud university medical center strives to be at the forefront of shaping the healthcare of the future. We do this in a person-centered and innovative way, and in close collaboration with our network. We want to have a significant impact on healthcare. We want to improve with each passing day, continuously working towards better healthcare, research, and education. And gaining a better understanding of how diseases arise and how we can prevent, treat, and cure them, day in and day out. This way, every patient always receives the best healthcare, now and in the future. Because that is why we do what we do.

Read more about our strategy and what working at Radboud university medical center means. Our colleagues would be happy to tell you about it. #weareradboudumc