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23/04/2021
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Science 4 Refugees

SURREAL ESR 8 - Early Stage Researcher PhD project on "The Use of novel marker to assess the relation in exposure to combustion-related black carbon air pollution cardiometabolic outcomes in children in different SES groups"

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  • ORGANISATION/COMPANY
    Hasselt University
  • RESEARCH FIELD
    Environmental science
    Medical sciences
  • RESEARCHER PROFILE
    First Stage Researcher (R1)
  • APPLICATION DEADLINE
    10/05/2021 23:00 - Europe/Brussels
  • LOCATION
    Belgium › Hasselt
  • TYPE OF CONTRACT
    Temporary
  • JOB STATUS
    Full-time
  • HOURS PER WEEK
    38
  • OFFER STARTING DATE
    01/09/2021
  • EU RESEARCH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME
    H2020 / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
  • REFERENCE NUMBER
    SURREAL ESR 8
  • MARIE CURIE GRANT AGREEMENT NUMBER
    956780

OFFER DESCRIPTION

Work contract

  • Full-time
  • 3 years (36 months)

Description of the Action

SURREAL (Systems approach of urban environments and health) is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN) action funded by the European Commission, which started as of January 2021. The network will employ 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESR students) for a 3 years’ high quality interdisciplinary and intersectoral PhD training. The aim of the action is to deliver a unique, creative and single training network for 15 ESR students working on an improved understanding of the urban health system's complexity, and on co-designing and applying adequate interventions in the system. The action will draw upon interactions between academic disciplines such as epidemiology, public health, human movement science, psychology, sociology, geography, and urban planning and a wide range of entities such as medical centres, public authorities, firms, and NGOs as well as citizens. Equipped with this expertise and supported by innovative training formats, such as Collaborative Learning in Practice (CLiP), SURREAL trains the next generation of professionals in urban health.

The team

The consortium is composed of 10 universities and research institutes joining forces with 20 partner organizations. Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research - LISER (LU) (Martin Dijst) is the managing coordinator in the project. The other beneficiaries are Université du Luxembourg - uni.lu (LU), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale – INSERM (FR), Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht - UMC UTRECHT (NL), Erasmus Universitair Medisch Centrum Rotterdam - ERASMUS MC (NL), Wageningen University – WU (NL), Universiteit Hasselt – UHASSELT (BE), Tel Aviv University – TAU (IL), Fundacion Privada Instituto de Salud Global Barcelona - ISGLOBAL (ES) and Tartu Ülikool – UTARTU (EE). The partner organizations are located in The Netherlands, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Israel, Spain, France, UK, and Estonia.

U-Hasselt

Hasselt University (UHasselt) is a young, independent and innovative university which is regionally anchored and has a pronounced regional, national and international orientation. In the Times Higher Education Best Small Universities Ranking, a sub-ranking focusing on universities with fewer than 5000 students, Hasselt University is ranked as number 15 worldwide. In 2018, Hasselt University’s excellence in academic education and in well-defined research domains has resulted in a top 5% ranking in U-Multirank. U-Multirank is a multi-dimensional, user-driven approach to internationally benchmark higher education institutions. Tim Nawrot heads the Molecular and Environmental Epidemiology Research domain within the Centre for Environmental Sciences at Hasselt University, Belgium. The research unit of dr. Nawrot is embedded in a multidisciplinary national and international network. T. Nawrot holds currently an ERC proof of concept grant for black carbon detection. Currently, 4 postdoctoral fellows and 13 PhD students work on various molecular and environmental epidemiological projects.

Project Title ESR 8

The use of novel marker to assess the relation in exposure to combustion-related black carbon air pollution cardiometabolic outcomes in children in different SES groups.

Project Description ESR 8

Environmental insults impair human health around the world. Air pollution including black carbon entail considerable health impact of environmental exposures during the life-span. Specific insults include oxidative stress and inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, genomic alterations and mutations, epigenetic alterations, endocrine disruption, altered intercellular communication, altered microbiome communities, and impaired nervous system function. Here we study the impact during a susceptible period of life (childhood) by using a novel biomarker of internal exposure. The aim is to estimate the current exposure to combustion-related black carbon air pollution in infants and the relation with cardiometabolic outcomes.

More Information

Additional Information

Benefits

  • A first period of x[1] months full-time appointment to be extended with a further period of 36-x months (for a total of 3 years) contingent on a satisfactory performance during the first period.
  • An exciting, multi-disciplinary and international research environment with ample opportunities for exchange with scholars from related disciplines at the universities and research institutes in the consortium, as well as with the local partner organizations and local stakeholders;
  • A creative, entrepreneurial, innovative and holistic training environment consisting of :
    • Individual Research Projects (IRP), providing excellent supervision and mentoring with academics and non-academics;
    • Structured local training programs, comprising specific training courses in research-related skills and well as training in complementary skills, offered on the basis of a Personal Career Development Plan;
    • Network-wide activities, i.c. 3 Network Schools, in Utrecht, Paris and Barcelona;
    • Secondments, i.c. at least two inter-sectoral secondments to participants within the SURREAL Network;
    • Collaborative learning in practice (CLiP), allowing to engage continuously with and learn from working in real urban health intervention situations;
    • Career development modules, i.c. the use of Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF) and how to effectively employ the RDF Planner as basis for a Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP);
  • Additional training and networking opportunities through participation in international conferences.
 

[1] Often 12 months, but more or less is possible and depends on local procedures.

Eligibility criteria

☐ be working exclusively for the action; AND

☐ not have resided NOR have carried out your main activity (work, studies) in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date; AND

☐ be — at the date of recruitment — in the first four years of your research career and not have a doctoral degree. Considered is: time spent as FTE research experience, measured from the date when you obtained the degree entitling you to embark on a doctorate even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged.

Selection process

The following documents are required:

  • Copy of your ID
  • Letter of motivation
  • A note suggesting specific research questions related to the project's theme (1/2 A4)
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Copy of the highest diploma. The minimum requirement is a diploma qualifying for doctoral studies in the recruiting country (e.g. Master degree). Students in their last year may apply but can only be recruited upon successful graduation.
  • Contact details of two referees (no recommendation letter)
  • Writing sample (e.g. student’s paper or chapter thesis) preferably in English

This project is part of the SURREAL H2020-ITN PhD training network of in total 15 Individual ESR Research projects. You may apply for up to 4 projects within the network, adding a document to your application file in which you indicate their order of priority.

Selected applicants will be called for an interview.

Additional comments

Enrolment in Doctoral degree(s): at Hasselt University

All Beneficiaries in the consortium are Equal Opportunity Employers.

GDPR consent statement: By submitting your application via the email address or platform indicated in the project(s), you consent to the following:

  • Your personal records and application files are kept at the institution(s) to which you submitted them, until 5 years after the end date of the project, i.c. 31.12.2029;
  • Your personal records and application files may also be shared with the recruitment committees of other projects in the consortium, in particular if such sharing increases your chances of being recruited;
  • In the event you are shortlisted in view of potential recruitment, your personal records and application files are additionally kept at the Network Coordinator institute, i.c. LISER – Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, until 5 years after the end date of the project, i.c. 31.12.2029;
  • Any additional GDPR/data protection notices for recruitment applicable at the institution to which you submit your application.

Requirements

Offer Requirements

  • REQUIRED LANGUAGES
    ENGLISH: Excellent

Skills/Qualifications

  • The minimum requirement is a recognized diploma qualifying for doctoral studies in the recruiting country (e.g. Master degree). Students in their last year of study may apply but can only be recruited upon successful graduation.
  • Strong motivation to engage in interdisciplinary and intersectoral network wide training activities
  • Willingness to closely collaborate with other academic disciplines and societal stakeholders;
  • Willingness to participate in two internships ;
  • Willingness to participate in network-wide training events, and to communication, dissemination and engaging activities;
  • Fluent in English, both written as well as oral;
  • Skills in academic writing and reporting;
  • Good organizational skills, good communications skills;
  • Ability to take own initiatives as well as work in groups to solve complex problems;

Specific Requirements

Required Diploma for ESR 8:

  • Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Medical Sciences

Required Research Experience for ESR 8:

  • Statistical expertise and data management is recommended

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Work location(s)
1 position(s) available at
Hasselt University
Belgium
Hasselt

EURAXESS offer ID: 632250

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