Are you interested in doing research and managing a European research project on migrant healthcare communication? Do you have affinity with improving mental healthcare communication for migrant patients?

We are seeking for an ambitious Postdoctoral Researcher for a three-year European research project, called ‘MHealth4All’, focusing on developing and implementing a digital communication and information platform to improve access to mental healthcare services for migrant patients with low language proficiency in the host country’s dominant language. The project is funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and carried out in close collaboration with the University of Hamburg-Eppendorf (Germany), Free University Brussels (Belgium), University of Surrey (UK), University of Alcala (Spain), University of Genova (Italy), Vilnius University (Lithuania), University of Warsaw (Poland), University of Nitra (Slovakia), as well as several stakeholders from practice. This Post doctorate position is part of the ‘Persuasive Communication’ programme group and in collaboration with the Centre for Urban Mental Health.

What are you going to do

The overall aim of the project ‘MHealth4All’ is to develop and evaluate an evidence-based digital platform for low-language proficient migrant patients and mental healthcare practitioners, in order to support them in improving access to mental healthcare services in Europe. To achieve this aim, interdisciplinary research is needed to gain insight into which information and communication strategies are potentially effective in a variety of European contexts.

The entire project consists of six subprojects. The Postdoctoral Researcher will manage, in collaboration with the project lead, these subprojects and conduct two subprojects: 1) developing and testing evidence-based patient narratives to be included in the digital platform about mental healthcare access themes, and 2) evaluating the effectiveness of the digital platform in mental healthcare. The other subprojects will be conducted by the University of Surrey, University of Alcala, and Free University Brussels in Belgium, for which you are required to deliver research results as well. Methods employed for the subprojects range from desk research, to qualitative (e.g. patient interviews) and quantitative (e.g. survey, observational research) methods. The Postdoctoral Researcher will publish the results of the two subprojects in at least two high quality papers. Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• organizing consortium meetings and managing the consortium partners;
• designing research protocols and preparing research materials;
• conduct data-collection and related data-analysis;
• writing up findings for publication in at least two academic papers in high-impact scientific journals;
• writing progress reports;
• present your work at (inter)national conference.

There is a possibility to be involved in teaching in our communication science program, if the candidate would prefer this.

What do we require

You have:

• a PhD in Communication Science or a related discipline;
• a sound knowledge of and skills in both qualitative and quantitative research methods and statistics;
• a (proven) interest in applied, interdisciplinary social scientific research;
• the ability to work both independently and as part of an (international) team;
• an excellent written and spoken command of English;
• strong organizational skills;
• project management experience.

You are:

• intellectually curious and eager to learn;
• passionate about contributing through your research to a more inclusive healthcare system;
• willing to learn and think across disciplines and integrate knowledge from different academic disciplines;
• open to different cultures and eager to work with people from different cultures;
• willing to travel abroad approximately twice yearly.

Fixed-term contract: one year.

Our offer

We offer a temporary part-time contract for 0.6 fte (22,6 hours a week for a period of three years). The initial term of employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of 24 months.

The intended start date for this function is 1 January 2022.

The gross monthly salary based on full-time employment (38 hours per week) ranges from €3,807 up to a maximum of €5,211 gross per month. This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus.

University of Amsterdam

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.

To work at the University of Amsterdam is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterized by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society. Here you can read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

The Amsterdam School of Communication Research

The Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) is the research institute for the Communication Science department at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.