PhD Position in Mental Health Uppsala University Department of Women's and Children's Health

PhD-Student in a Project on Mental Ill-Health during Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our mission is to pursue top-quality research and education and to interact constructively with society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has 46.000 students, 7.300 employees and a turnover of SEK 7.3 billion.

The position will be at Uppsala university, the department of Women’s and children’s health – in a project aiming for better prediction of mental ill-health in the peripartum period. The position will also be in collaboration with WoMHeR- Center for Women’s mental health in the reproductive lifespan.

The present PhD position is within the research group Obstetric and Reproductive Health Research at the Department of Women’s and Children’s health. The group is led by Professor Alkistis Skalkidou. Our interdisciplinary group specializes with perinatal mental health and host several cohort studies within this area. The research also regards breastfeeding and parenthood as well as diagnostics and treatment for perinatal illness. The group is situated at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health; www.kbh.uu.se.

Project description

Anxiety and depression are common mental health problems, also in the peripartum period. There are interventions with proven efficacy to prevent postpartum mental ill-health; however, these interventions are cost-effective solely among high risk groups. Therefore, early identification and prediction is necessary. The project aims to test and evaluate new neurophysiological measures for prediction of anxiety and depression after childbirth, and moreover, to develop a statistical prediction model for affective disorders in the postpartum period.

The project will be led by clinical psychologist, Associate Professor Emma Fransson in collaborations with researchers at the Department for Psychology, the department for Neuroscience at Uppsala university as well as from the University of Zürich in Switzerland.

The PhD programme spans four years of full-time work. Additional service at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health and/or Centre for Gender Research regarding administrative and/or educational work may apply (max 20%) which then prolongs the duration of the PhD programme with the corresponding time.

The project is part of Uppsala university Center: Women’s Mental Health during the Reproductive lifespan, WoMHeR as one of 16 PhD projects within a research school. Each multidisciplinary project involves supervisors from at least two of the scientific domains at Uppsala university. For more information regarding WoMHeR, see: https://uu.se/forskning/womher/

Job assignment: You will be part of planning and conducting data collection where pregnant women are invited to interviews and neurophysiological testing (i.e. heart rate variability test and measurement of pupil dilation). Other assignment regards data management and to work with quantitative statistical data analyses.

Qualifications: To be eligible for the position, you need to have completed a degree at advanced (Masters) level in Psychology, Health Care Sciences, Behavioral Sciences, Medicine, Statistics, Computer sciences or a related area.

Experience of quantitative statistical methods is necessary.

The position requires that the candidate is accepted within the postgraduate doctoral programme. Information regarding requirements for acceptance is found at:

http://www2.medfarm.uu.se/utbildning/forskarniva/ and https://www.uu.se/utbildning/utbildningar/forskarutbildning/.

We are looking for a motivated candidate with good ability to work independently. You are expected to be particular and structured. Personal qualities, such as drive, the ability to manage and run scientific projects are very important. The applicant needs to be determined, structured and able to work efficiently both individually and in groups. Demonstrate high level of proficiency in oral and written English is required. We are looking for a candidate who is willing to work full time or who wishes to combine the PhD with clinical work.

Desirable qualification: Previous documented experience of research is a merit as well as interest in neurology/neuropsychology/psychiatry and mental health in becoming and new parents.

Application:

Your application could be written in Swedish or English and should contain

- Your Curriculum Vitae

- Copies of degree certificate and grades

- Master’s thesis

- Full publication list

- A personal letter describing: (1) your eventual previous research experience and (2) the reason(s) why you want to pursue a PhD programme

- Include contact information (name, email address, phone number) of at least two references

Interviews and work examples will be part of the selection process.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines http://regler.uu.se.

Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students.

Starting date: September 2020 or as agreed.

Type of employment: Temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7.

Scope of employment: 100 % or as agreed.

For further information about the position please contact: Associate professor Emma Fransson (emma.fransson@kbh.uu.se; +46708435513).

Please submit your application by August 31st 2020

Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

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