The Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery (AccentVV) is part of the KU Leuven Department of Public Health & Primary Care.
AccentVV aspires to be a leading scientific centre that maximises the quality of nursing and midwifery care. AccentVV aims at higher educated nurses and midwifes as key players in high quality and evidence based care.
The centre carries out leading research around the development and testing of care interventions, the optimisation of healthcare organisation at micro and meso levels, the implementation of effective interventions, and care ethical aspects in nursing and midwifery care.
By making efforts to improve processes of care and outcomes for different target groups and within various healthcare sectors, its research will be instrumental to individuality, effectiveness, accessibility, timeliness, safety and efficiency of high quality care.
Moreover, AccentVV strives to translate results of research into tangible recommendations for the improvement in clinical practice. The centre seeks to lead the social debates concerning future care, and strongly invests in the development of leadership in care.
AccentVV considers professionalism, cooperation with other disciplines, care and policy organisations, training centres, patient organisations and professional and academic organisations to be crucial elements to achieve its mission.
Prof. dr. Theo van Achterberg is a full professor at the AccentVV. Both his teaching and his research focus on quality issues in patient care, with the implementation of evidence-based practice as the main focus.
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Project
This vacancy relates to the larger Healthy Adaptation to Pregnancy, Postpartum and Parenthood (HAP 3) project (see www.HAP3.eu), an EU funded Marie Skłodowska Curie Joint Doctoral network. Our international consortium of 5 leading universities and 11 associated partners provides the PhD candidates with a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse academic and professional community, benefit from the expertise and resources of different institutions, and contribute to cutting-edge research in the fields of obesity and mental health during critical reproductive periods. HAP3 provides high-level transdisciplinary training to 11 high achieving and committed doctoral candidates (DCs). As a PhD candidate, you will work towards a Joint Doctorate from two European Universities.
The OBJECTIVES OF THIS SPECIFIC PhD PROJECT are to (1) capture policy-level facilitators and barriers to implementation, and (2) identify and operationalise matching policy-level implementation strategies for the introduction of the facilitation of the integral HAP3 intervention (i.e. the Family app and Dashboard for care providers) for weight management and mental health into routine care during pregnancy, the postpartum period and early parenthood.
The project will result in a) a comprehensive overview of policy-level barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the Family app and dashboard, and b) a toolbox for the implementation of the HAP3 Family app and the dashboard for care providers (HAP3 intervention), this in collaboration with two other doctoral candidates. The project will ultimately lead to a Joint PhD Degree from KU Leuven (Belgium) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (The Netherlands).
Key Responsibilities of the PhD candidate are:
- to perform a review of the literature for capturing policy-level implementation factors relevant for the implementation of the Family app;
- to install stakeholder panels to support the following phases in the projects;
- to perform an interview study to capture policy-level implementation factors as experienced by families and “Dashboard coaches” (those who monitor data collected through the app), as well as policy-makers;
- to use Implementation Mapping methodology to select relevant policy-level implementation strategies;
- to perform a Nominal Groups study to offer potential additional policy-level implementation strategies and activities, and to prioritise strategies and activities from the full selection;
- to collaborate with HAP3's doctoral candidates 9 and 10 in the delivery of a final implementation toolbox;
- to complete a successful PhD thesis within the project duration;
- to attend the training workshops, seminars and conferences organized within the HAP3 network, as well as those required by the doctoral schools of the universities involved;
- to publish in high-impact journals and present findings at conferences.
Profile
We welcome applications from individuals of any nationality and background, provided they meet the following requirements:
- Educational Qualification: Applicants must possess an MSc or an equivalent degree in the field of Health Sciences, Medicine, Psychology, Midwifery, Nursing, Public Health or Social sciences or other disciplines relevant to the overall project (more details specified in the project specific requirements);
- PhD Status: Applicants must not hold a PhD degree or have successfully defended a PhD thesis;
- Mobility Condition: Applicants must not have lived or conducted their main activities (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium for more than 12 months within the three years immediately preceding the recruitment date. Exceptions include compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and periods spent in the process of obtaining refugee status;
- Local Eligibility: Applicants must meet local requirements and be eligible for enrollment in the PhD program at the recruiting (KU Leuven) and second university (VU Amsterdam) involved in the supervision of the doctoral candidate.
- English Proficiency: Applicants must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English (proof of B2 level or equivalent);
- As you will work with local stakeholders, Dutch language proficiency is desirable but not strictly necessary;
- Previous training on Implementation Science is an advantage;
- Training or experience in the field of Health Policy is an advantage;
- Experience with performing Systematic Literature Reviews is an advantage.
Offer
The vacancy is for a period of four years and relates to the larger Healthy Adaptation to Pregnancy, Postpartum and Parenthood (HAP 3) an EU funded Marie Curie Joint doctoral network project designed to train ‘PERINATAL CARE INNOVATORS’ who will support couples during the transition from pregnancy, to postpartum and early parenthood.Our international consortium of 5 leading universities and 11 associated partners (including 7 non-academic partners) provides the PhD candidates with a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse academic and professional community, benefit from the expertise and resources of different institutions, and contribute to cutting-edge research in the fields of obesity and mental health during critical reproductive periods.
Selected candidates will be offered a competitive salary aligned with the MSCA-JD regulations for Doctoral Researchers. The exact net salary will be determined at the time of appointment, taking into account local tax laws, employer costs, social security contributions and whether or not the candidate is eligible for a family allowance. The salary package always includes a living allowance and a mobility allowance.
Link to the HAP3 networks' program of research.
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Annick Bogaerts, tel.: +32 16 19 31 27, mail: annick.bogaerts@kuleuven.be or Mrs. Alice Cavolo, tel.: +32 16 32 36 88, mail: alice.cavolo@kuleuven.be.
HOW TO APPLY ?
Applicants are required to SEND all of the the following documents TO THE PROJECT'S CENTRAL MAIL ADDRESS: info@hap3.eu
In the subject of their email message and in their motivation letter, applicants should clearly refer to the "DC11 project on Health Policies for the Implementation of a self management & monitoring app in perinatal care".
Applicants should provide:
* A photocopy of their ID card, or passport. You can use the kopieid app to prepare the ID copy safely;
* A copy of their academic qualifications, if not awarded in English, a certified translation is required;
* An academic CV;
* A motivation letter;
* A transcript detailing the grades obtained during their Master’s degree;
* The names and email addresses of two academic referees.
The deadline for applications is: 30 September of 2024.
SELECTION PROCESS
The initial phase involves reviewing eligibility and evaluating each candidate’s qualifications, which does not require their presence. Eligible
candidates will be ranked based on the merit and required skills. Candidates who pass this evaluation will be invited to an online interview.
Shortlisted candidates based on first interview will be contacted for final online interview on November 21st or 22nd of 2024.
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.