Postdoctoral Researcher in eHealth and Data Personalization for Promoting Physical Activity in Children with Heart Disease - Convergence Healthy Start

Job description

For children with heart disease, sufficient physical activity is critical for their physical and mental health, and overall quality of life. However, many of these children remain insufficiently active due to a variety of complex and individualized factors, including low self-efficacy and parental overprotection. Addressing these challenges requires a transdisciplinary and systems approach that involves the children, their parents, and their environment.

Convergence Healthy Start is a collaborative initiative between Erasmus University, Delft Technical University, and Erasmus MC, dedicated to addressing the early-life origins of disparities in health and well-being through innovative, transdisciplinary partnerships. This postdoctoral project is port of our team's ambition to enhance the physical activity of children with heart disease by using personalized eHealth interventions in a home-based setting. Our transdisciplinary team includes paediatric cardiologists, social scientists, exercise scientists, industrial designers, and engineers. We are seeking a dedicated Postdoctoral Researcher with expertise in data personalization and eHealth interventions to join us in this mission.

The successful candidate will:

• Collect and interpret data from medical records, wearables, and mobile apps to define risk profiles for children with insufficient physical activity.
• Utilize data personalization --a process that involves analysing and interpreting large datasets to develop customized physical activity plans tailored to the unique needs of each child.
• Further develop personalized interventions initiated by the team's PhD students, in co-design with healthcare professionals, designers, social scientists, and families of children with heart disease.
• Publish research findings in high-impact journals and present at scientific conferences.
• Contribute to grant writing and securing funding for ongoing and future research projects.

If you are passionate about using eHealth and data personalization to help children with heart defects lead more active and healthier lives, we would love to hear from you! Join our innovative transdisciplinary team and make a meaningful impact.

Work environment

The Convergence Program fosters a dynamic ecosystem for research and innovation in South Holland, attracting significant national and international attention. As a postdoc in this program, you will be formally based in the pediatric cardiology division of Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, while also collaborating extensively with TU Delft and Erasmus University. This provides a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of cutting-edge medical research, engineering, and social sciences.

This postdoc project is closely linked to other initiatives that leverage smart technology to promote physical activity in children with heart defects. As part of the Healthy Start program, you will join a diverse and interdisciplinary team of experts in paediatric cardiology, sports medicine, exercise science, industrial design, and social sciences. You will also work in close collaboration with patient organizations, hospitals, and other stakeholders to ensure that our research translates into practical, real-world applications that directly benefit children and their families.

Moreover, you will be an active member of the Healthy Start Community, participating in various activities and contributing to the program's goals. This collaborative and multidisciplinary environment offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of children with heart disease. For more information, visit https://convergence.nl/healthy-start/

Qualifications and skills

As a Postdoctoral Researcher, you possess strong analytical skills and extensive experience in data analysis and interpretation, including proficiency in AI and machine learning techniques. You have a natural affinity for working in a transdisciplinary team, particularly with children who have congenital heart disease and their parents.

Desired qualifications:

• PhD in a relevant field such as biomedical engineering, computer science, data science, medical technology, social sciences, medicine or a related discipline.
• Experience with data personalization and eHealth intervention development.
• Proven track record of scientific dissemination, including publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at scientific conferences.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
• A basic command of Dutch is preferred, given the interaction with the target audience.

Before you apply please check our conditions for employment.

Terms of employment

• You will receive a temporary position for 4 years.
• A gross monthly salary between € 4.678 and € 6.402,- (scale 11) based on a fulltime workweek of 36 hours.
• Working from home (partially) is an option. 
• Excellent fringe benefits, such as a 13th month that is already paid out in November and an individual travel expense package.
• An International Office which aids you in preparing for you arrival and stay.
• Pension insurance with ABP, we take care of 70% of the monthly contribution.
• Special benefits, such as an in-company physiotherapist and bicycle repairer. There is also a gym where you can work on your fitness after work.

More information

If you are excited by the thought of this position and would like to apply, please do so by using the application form on our website.

For more information about this position, please contact Arend van Deutekom, Paediatric Cardiologist via 06 246 775 23 or send a WhatsApp.

No agencies please.