Assistant or associate professor in mental health

Job description

The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) welcomes two talented researchers for the positions of Assistant Professor (UD) or Associate Professor (UHD) and to become part our expertise network in formation on lifestyle and prevention with a focus on movement, nutrition and mental health. The current UD and/or UHD position is focused on mental health. The appointed UD/UHD will strengthen collaborative efforts on (active) lifestyle and prevention from a broad and integrated perspective (including social deprivation as risk factor, the clustering of poor mental health and lifestyle related diseases, underlying mechanisms) within the UMCG, and establish connections with healthcare, regional partners, as well as with technology and data partners. The work will comprise research and network related activities for approximately 80%, and educational tasks for approximately 20% of the time.

Research activities
The assistant/associate professors will create momentum for innovative research in the fields of prevention of mental illness and promotion of mental health, which is an upcoming field within UMCG’s University Center of Psychiatry. A focus on mental (ill)health as both cause and consequence of all kinds of disease and (un)healthy lifestyle behaviour is becoming increasingly important in various clinical and research departments of the UMCG. Successful applicants will collaborate on complementary research such as 1) social context as cause and consequence of mental (ill)health; 2) the prevention of intergenerational transmission of mental (ill)health; 3) clustering of mental and (lifestyle related) somatic disease, in combination with socio-economic adversity; 4) (implementation of) effective interventions promoting mental health, active lifestyle and healthy diets, among patients, citizens and health care staff. Candidates will not only develop knowledge in these areas, but also innovative research designs that can handle complex and dynamic relations between individual and contextual factors, among which action research and citizen science approaches. In designing research projects, interventions and implementation, candidates will work together with researchers from various departments of the UMCG, RUG, Hanze, and also with citizens, client representatives and (preventive) health care staff. Applications at either UD or UHD level are welcomed.

Network related activities
The UD and UHD will contribute to the formation of, and actively participate in, an expertise network which is currently being initiated in the UMCG to connect the domains of nutrition, physical activity, and mental health, as well as integrating perspectives of healthcare, research, and education. To enable coordinated and cross-cutting initiatives in lifestyle and prevention, staff will contribute to the strategic development and implementation of activities for building a robust and active network of experts within the UMCG and reaching beyond.

Education activities
The UD and UHD will contribute to educational developments aiming to enhance knowledge and skills regarding the promotion of mental health, prevention, and (active) lifestyle across all internal bachelor, master and PhD programs of our medical faculty as well as professional training of health care professionals on related topics. Educational tasks may include development and teaching of courses and/or modules as well as student supervision.

University Center Psychiatry, UMCG

The assistant/associate professors will be housed within the University Center of Psychiatry (UCP) of the UMCG. In addition to providing specialist (tertiary) mental healthcare, the UCP has important teaching, training and research tasks. Scientific research is clinical and epidemiological in nature with an increasing emphasis on prevention. The UCP participates in major national research programs focused on anxiety and depression (www.nesda.nl) and child and adolescent psychiatric disorders (www.trails.nl). As part of the UMCG's Healthy Ageing spearhead, it collaborates with large multidisciplinary research groups on basic scientific and clinical themes.

Vacancies
There are two positions available, at UD or UHD level, with an emphasis on mental health and prevention of mental illness. Candidates can express their preference for number of hours per week they wish to be appointed.

Qualifications for Assistant Professor (UD)

• Team player and demonstrable organizational qualities and communication skills.
• PhD degree in social sciences, human movement sciences, health sciences, epidemiology, data sciences, implementation sciences or related disciplines.
• At least three-year post-doc experience, preferably in (international) academic environments other than where the PhD was obtained and/or an interdisciplinary setting.
• Experience in setting up, implementing, and managing data collection and/or interventions for various populations in clinical and/or community setting.
• Good analytical skills for quantitative and/or qualitative data.
• Good research record in their field demonstrated by: original research, reviews, and/or research opinion papers in peer-reviewed academic journals, other relevant research output (direct or indirect) demonstrating your contribution to the scientific field or the public domain, such as methods, algorithms, and patent development, social contributions, policy documents and practice guidelines and preferably, experience with acquisition of external research funding and/or experience with (formal or informal) PhD student supervision.
• Teaching experience in the area of mental health, psychiatry, psychology or medicine, including supervision of bachelor and/or master students.
• Language proficiency: Fluency in English, both written and spoken. Fluency in Dutch, both written and spoken, is considered an advantage, but should be reached within two years from appointment.

Qualifications for Associate Professor (UHD)
UHD candidates are expected to build a research program in connection to and in collaboration with departmental, institutional and international colleagues, which is largely externally funded. They will also participate in and contribute to the development of the teaching program and organize their research and activities so as to create the best possible impact on society. The following criteria, in addition to the criteria listed above, are applicable to UHD candidates:

• At least 5 years of experience in (international) academic environments and research collaboration (since obtaining PhD certificate), preferably in interdisciplinary settings and/or various working environments.
• Demonstrated research leadership as evidenced by successful acquisition of external research funding, supervision of PhD students, and leading a research group on a related topic.
• Proof of independence and international recognition in the area of mental health and prevention of mental illness, in and outside healthcare settings.
• Teaching qualification and experience in various educational roles, also at an organizational level, e.g. as member or chair of a board of examiners or program committee, or as a coordinator of specific educational tracks.

Conditions of employment

Based on a full-time appointment, at the level of UD, the salary will be a maximum of € 6.402,- gross per month (scale 11) or a maximum 7.232,- gross per month (scale 12) and at the level of UHD, the salary will be a maximum of € 7.816,- gross per month (scale 13). The exact salary will depend on applicant’s qualifications and relevant experience.Additionally, the UMCG offers an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% year-end bonus.The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

Application
You may send in your application no later than 28-5-2025. Please upload the following information in a single file (PDF):

• a letter of motivation, including specifications of application level (UD/UHD) and preferred contract (50-80%);
• a curriculum vitae including e.g. outputs of research, teaching, and societal impact
• a complete list of publications, including the 5 “best papers” preferably with copies;
• a 3-page research statement of research accomplishments and future research focus and goals;
• a 2-page teaching statement;
• a list of three references with contact information (including e-mail address).

Applications with missing credentials will not be taken into consideration. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Information
For additional information, you can contact:

• dr. Frederike Jörg, Associate professor at the University Center Psychiatry, [email protected] (specific information regarding content and tasks);
• prof. dr. Robert A. Schoevers, Head of University Center Psychiatry, [email protected] (general information).

Please do not use the e-mail address above for applications.

For questions about the position

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