PhD risk communication novel biomaterials in healthcar

This project aims to develop and validate the use of sustainable, biocompatible, bioactive and antimicrobial 4D materials which can be injected and printed and that increase implantation precision in non-invasive surgical procedures on compromised hard and soft tissue of cancer patients. It will be part of a European Commission funded international project consisting of a consortium of 18 institutions.

Amsterdam UMC is responsible for research into the societal and ethical aspects around the development and use of those plant derived biomaterials. Trust by the general public in science and new technologies has largely declined, and novel technologies in clinical care are not inevitably embraced by patients or the public. Rather than emphasizing the public’s lack of knowledge or scientific illiteracy, we aim at understanding lay mental models and information needs and potential ethical concerns right from the pre-clinical trial stage of the development of the plant-driven biomaterials.

Following the ‘mental models approach to risk communication’ you will investigate both the perspective of experts/clinicians and lay people/patients in this new development, and develop communication materials to ensure societal acceptability and informed decision-making. Furthermore, you will map ethical considerations throughout the project.

Would you like to know more about the different phases within the PhD trajectory? You can read more about this on this page.

As a PhD student, you will conduct the work packages related to ‘social sciences’ and to ‘ethics’, following the ‘mental models approach to risk communication’.

• Conduct qualitative in-depth interviews, workshops and design sessions with experts, clinicians, patients and lay people in both the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
• Qualitative data analysis to construct expert, patient and lay person mental models associated with the intervention, and identify potential ethical considerations.
• Establish communication goals and design of communication materials, in collaboration with other researchers in the consortium.
• Map the (emergent) ethics considerations throughout the project/consortium.
• Draft publications for international scientific peer-reviewed journals, which will be combined in a PhD thesis at the end of the project.

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with a background in social sciences, communication sciences, psychology, applied ethics, and/or industrial design, with experience in qualitative research. Specific qualifications:

Essential

• A completed master in Social Sciences, Communication Sciences, Psychology, Applied Ethics or Industrial Design, or related fields
• Experience with qualitative research, in particular conducting and analyzing in-depth interviews.
• Excellent communicative skills and a strong collaborator.
• Excellent social skills and the ability to work well in a diverse team.
• Demonstrated fluency in English and Dutch, both written and oral.

Desirable

• A strong interest in (risk) communication issues in healthcare.
• A strong interest in ethical and societal acceptability issues in new technologies healthcare.

Note: This block should only be adjusted in consultation with the HR or recruitment advisor involved.

• A flying start to your career in scientific research.
• Plenty of room for your drive to shape tomorrow's healthcare.
• Working on large-scale and in-house research, with motivated colleagues from all over the world.
• You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
• A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of 4 years. The Guideline PhD contract applies to this vacancy.
• Salary scale OIO: € 3.017 to € 3.824 gross based on full-time employment (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. Calculate your net salary here.
• Holiday hours: 190,4 per year for fulltime and a possibility to save additional hours.
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.
• For >7 km each way, 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs and, for private transport, €0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km each way.
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme. Moreover, you will receive a reimbursement of €0.18 per km.

Watch this video with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.

You will work within RISC Amsterdam (RISC Amsterdam) at the department of Public & Occupational Health (Amsterdam UMC, Locatie VUmc - Public & Occupational Health), under supervision of dr. Olga Damman and dr. Mirjam Fransen. RISC Amsterdam consists of a group of researchers from social sciences, health sciences and psychology who study risk communication for informed and shared decision making in healthcare. The project is a collaboration with the department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, specifically with dr. Natalie Evans and prof. dr. Mariëtte van den Hoven, who will co-supervise the project. As such, you will be expected to work part of the time in the department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, collaborating with researchers working on normative issues in science and health policy, and social and technological developments in relation to welfare and care.

In the project, we collaborate with all other 17 institutions involved, in particularly with the University of Liverpool (United Kingdom), who will conduct a cost of illness study and early health economic evaluation to estimate impact of the use of plant-driven biomaterials on health systems.

Amsterdam UMC Research BV supports non-profit scientific research. In doing so, we provide researchers with everything they need to excel. Our principal investigators (PIs) and project leaders offer support in the field of project management, finance and human resources. In medical scientific research projects, legal support is also provided.

During the publication period, applications will be handled continuously. If the vacancy is filled, it will be closed prematurely.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact Olga Damman via o.damman@amsterdamumc.nl.

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Kim Hooijmans, Recruitment advisor, via k.i.m.hooijmans@amsterdamumc.nl.

A reference check, screening and hiring test may be part of the procedure. Read here whether that applies to you. If you join us, we ask you for a VOG (Certificate of Good Conduct).

Internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates in case of equal suitability.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.