Joint PhD in the field of epidemiology and occupational health sciences

University of Angers

The university of Angers through the Epidemiology in Occupational Health and Ergonomics (Ester) team of Irest Inserm, focuses on advancing research in occupational health. The team's work spans etiological research on occupational determinants, assessment of workplace exposures, and evaluation of prevention strategies.

Job description

Advertised PhD position

This cotutelle doctoral position is a collaboration between the Department of Occupational Health, Psychology and Sports Sciences at the University of Gävle and the Epidemiology in Occupational Health and Ergonomics (Ester) team of Irest Inserm at the University of Angers. The position will involve work done at both universities and a PhD degree awarded by both universities.

Good health and well-being of teaching and research staff is necessary for sustainable academic environments. Little is known about the effect of the ongoing rapid digitalization (accelerated by the pandemic) for academics, their work evolution and related exposures (both in terms of place and time), or subsequent effects on health and wellbeing. The ongoing changes present potential risks for overconnectedness, long working hours (the first established occupational disease), isolation and altered physical activity behaviours – all of which can impact health. Previous studies have identified mental health concerns among academics, while less consideration has been made on the impact of the sedentariness of typical academic work on their physical or overall health.

The aim of this project is to leverage the EU Green network of nine European Universities (in which University of Gävle and University of Angers are a part) to describe and compare digitalization and determinants of health across academics employed at the nine universities. The PhD work will include a systematic review, and collection and analysis of data from a large survey to describe the work exposome and factors and practices that promote health, well-being and decent work for academics employed at the EU Green campuses with a focus on assessing gender equality. Further, the project will consider similarities and differences in academic health and the determinant factors (including gender) in the context of digital transitions across the 9 EU Green universities to provide descriptive data within a European context to guide future sustainable digital transformations.

PhD position

The successful applicant will participate regularly in research group, department and faculty seminars and meetings at both universities. All courses, assignments, communication, manuscripts, publications and thesis work will be conducted in English.

In addition to doctoral education and research work, teaching and administrative tasks up to a maximum of 20 % of full-time may also occur in the position.

As a doctoral student, the goal is to complete a doctoral degree comprising 240 credits with placement at the University of Gävle (Sweden) for 2.5 years and at the University of Angers (France) for 1.5 years.

Qualifications

You are eligible to apply for this position if you meet the following formal requirements (based on the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance § Chapter 7.39, for France https://ed-bs.doctorat-paysdelaloire.fr/avant) :

• Hold a Master’s degree/second-cycle level degree in a related field (example: public health, epidemiology, occupational health, work sciences).
• Have completed a minimum of 240 higher education credits (equivale to 80 weeks of full-time studies), of which at least 60 credits (equivalent to 20 weeks of full-time studies) are at a graduate/second-cycle level.

To be successful in the doctoral studies, the applicant should have a good ability to work independently, in a structured manner and meet deadlines, to collaborate with others, and to explain and discuss research, even with people with a background in other disciplines.

The applicant should have good knowledge of English, both spoken and written, and be willing and able to live and work in both Sweden (2.5 years) and France (1.5 years).

It is an advantage if the applicant has:

• Documented experience in data collection, data management and data analysis.
• Previous experience in research projects in epidemiology, public health and/or occupational health.
• Worked with survey data, including coding, cleaning and/or analysis.
• Experience in project management.

The selection of applicants for a training position is based on the combined assessment of the applicant's ability to benefit from the training.

Information on admission and employment

Only those who have been admitted to a doctoral program may be employed as a doctoral student. The total employment period may not exceed four years of full-time doctoral education.

A new employment as a doctoral student is valid for a maximum of one year, and the employment may then be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Application

Application for the position is made digitally via the following link: http://hogskolanigavle.varbi.com/what

The application must include:

• A curriculum vitae.
• Documents confirming your basic qualifications.
• A list of references and copies of previous work (e.g. thesis, any scientific publications) as well as other documents you wish submit for consideration of your scientific writing or contributions.

For applicants with degrees from universities outside of Sweden and France: Authorized translations into Swedish or English of all educational degree documents, unless they are written in Norwegian or Danish.

Contact persons

Zahra Ahmadi
Departmental Dean
Ph +46 70 181 12 48
E-mail zahra.ahmadi@hig.se

Jennie Jackson
Project leader
Ph +46 26 64 86 93
E-mail jennie.jackson@hig.se

Other information

The position is a doctoral employment, see the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance SFS 1993:100, chapter 5, for more information.

For this recruitment, the University of Gävle has considered recruitment channels and marketing. We therefore firmly decline contact with media sellers and similar.

Read more: University of Gävle
Want to know where we are located? See the workplace on the map here.