This post-doc project ‘Validating person-specific measurements’ is part of the larger e-Health Junior NWA consortium project:

The e-Health junior consortium aims to improve the quality of life of children and young adults who suffer from a chronic illness. They do this with an interdisciplinary team of various scientists, game-designers, children/young adults and companies, by developing eHealth applications that contribute to resilience and self-awareness, and making and keeping those available to children and young adults that have a chronic illness. 

More information on e-Health Junior is available (in Dutch) here.

Project on Validating person-specific measurements:

Background: Novel methods and technology make it possible to collect many repeated measures for individual persons, for example via the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) or Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA), and smart phone applications, such as those developed for the eHealth Junior project. One aim of collecting such data is to track individuals over time and provide them with personalized feedback to inform about how they are doing, and to potentially influence their behaviors, feelings, and cognitions. In order to do this well and responsibly, it is essential that the intensive longitudinal data collected is valid. Given that the data, analyses, and feedback are provided on a person-specific and often item-specific level, the validity of these measurements also needs to be evaluated on a person- and item-specific level.

The project: The candidate will (further) develop tools and establish quality criteria for evaluating the person- and item-specific reliability of Experience Sampling data. Other measures of validity aside from reliability may also be evaluated. To these ends, the candidate will use both simulation studies, and available empirical intensive longitudinal data. The studies will provide knowledge and tools relevant for evaluating Experience Sampling measurements in general, but also need to connect to specific questions that are particularly relevant for the e-Health junior applications.

Steps the candidate is expected to take during the project:

• Consider multiple methods for evaluating reliability/validity in ESM;
• Evaluate consequences of imperfect reliability (measurement error) on common ESM analysis techniques (e.g., dynamic networks/vector autoregressive modeling/dynamic SEM);
• Particularly, evaluate the impact on the specific types of feedback that may be provided to the children via the eHealth junior applications;
• Create a simple application to visualize certain consequences of imperfect reliability on results;
• Evaluate reliability/validity of commonly used ESM items in the context of the eHealth Junior applications.

What we seek: The ideal candidate starts as soon as possible, and has either a doctoral degree in methodology and statistics, psychometrics, data science, or related field, with a strong interest/background in psychology and health; or a doctoral degree in psychology or health field and demonstrates a strong affinity with methodology and statistics.

Particularly, the ideal candidate is/has:

Essentials

• demonstrable affinity and/or experience with evaluating measurement quality, classical and modern test theory, latent variable modeling;
• demonstrable affinity and/or experience with analyzing Experience Sampling Data and/or other intensive longitudinal data (e.g., idiographic modeling, dynamic networks, time series analysis, Dynamic SEM);
• considerable experience with R and/or other statistical programming languages;
• a proactive and independent thinker and worker, who considers the overarching goals of the NWA project;
• good communicative skills, being able to explain difficult concepts to a broad audience;
• willingness and/or affinity and experience with working in a large multidisciplinary team;
• excellent English speaking and writing skills.

Desirables

• good Dutch speaking and writing skills (in order to communicate well with eHealth junior colleagues and partners);
• solid (workshop) teaching skills;
• experience with ESM data collection;
• experience with programming simple applications (for example R Shiny applications);
• familiarity with SEM, multilevel modeling, and Bayesian statistics;
• affinity with the target population of the eHealth junior project (children with chronical health problems).

An internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with good working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU).

The start date of this position is as soon as possible and you will be based at The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences in Rotterdam. The successful candidate will be offered a full-time a two-year contract with Erasmus University Rotterdam. In accordance with the conditions applied at Erasmus University Rotterdam as indicated in the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO NU) of the Dutch universities, the salary is dependent on the candidate’s experience and is set at a maximum of CAO NU scale 11 with a minimum of  € 3.807,- and a maximum of € 5.211,- gross per month, on a fulltime basis. In addition, EUR pays an 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year payment of 8.3% and offers excellent secondary benefits, and a very generous leave scheme. Furthermore, EUR is affiliated with ABP for the pension provision and we offer partially paid parental leave, fully paid extended birth leave for partners, a personal education budget, work-life balance coaches and more. Employees can also use EUR facilities, such as the Erasmus sports center and the University library.

Erasmus University Rotterdam offers a Dual Career Programme (DCP) to assist the life partners of new academic staff (on pay-roll) in finding employment in The Netherlands. The programme is offered in close cooperation with nearby universities of Delft and Leiden.

Erasmus University Rotterdam aspires to be an equitable and inclusive community. We nurture an open culture, where everyone is supported to fulfill their full potential. We see inclusivity of talent as the basis of our successes, and the diversity of perspectives and people as a highly valued outcome. EUR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, functional impairment, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research. Our scientists and students work in close collaboration with internal and external parties to solve global, social challenges, inspired by the always dynamic and cosmopolitan Rotterdam. Our mission is therefore "Creating positive societal impact". Our academic education is intensive, active and application-oriented. Our research increasingly takes place in multidisciplinary teams, which are strongly intertwined with international networks. With our research impact and thanks to the high quality of education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. The Erasmian values ​​function as our internal compass and make Erasmus University recognizable to the outside world: engaged with society, world citizen, connecting, entrepreneurial and open-minded. www.eur.nl

The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences is home to a vast diversity of scientific disciplines: public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College, IHS, and two research institutes RISBO and DRIFT are linked to the faculty. This also reflects in the content of the (international) bachelor's and master's programmes and in research.  Our activities are always focused on people and society. At the ESSB fundamental, internationally oriented research is of paramount importance. In addition, social research for professionals, policy makers, and the society is part of our research activities. ESSB offers a stimulating research environment where major national and international research grants are received. Appealing guest researchers and ambitious PhD candidates come along to conduct their research. Our education is small-scale and works with innovative forms of education such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Both the Dutch and English programs are highly ranked by students and alumni. ESSB is home to over 3500 students and 300 staff-members.