PhD stilling i forebyggelse af hjertesygdomme hos midaldrende kvinder via kort intens fysisk aktivitet integreret i daglige gøremål

Declaration of interest regarding PhD project:
The Danish Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Science (DRIVEN) is looking for applicants for a PhD scholarship within the field of behavioural sciences applied to physical activity. We are looking for a person with a relevant undergraduate and master’s degree in physical activity or exercise science, (health) psychology, behavioural science, public health, or related research fields. The ideal candidate should have a passion and background (academic knowledge and ideally some experience) in applying behavioural science to understand and promote physical activity and health in at-risk populations.

Research environment
The successful candidate will be placed within DRIVEN, the Danish Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Science (Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Sports Sciences and Clinical Biomechanics). The supervision team will consist of Professor Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani from DRIVEN at SDU, Dr Svenja Jaffari from Syddansk Sundhedsinnovation, and Dr Christina Bjørk Petersen from Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Frederiksberg Hospital / National Institute of Public Health, SDU. The successful candidate will also benefit from close collaboration with a larger project team which consists of leading international scholars across three continents (Europe, Australia and Canada).

Project description
This PhD is embedded within a Danish Heart Foundation (Hjerteforeningen) funded grant, which is a 3-year long project due to start on 6 January 2025. The project aims to develop and test an intervention designed to prevent cardiovascular disease through Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA) in physically inactive Danish women aged 40-65. This is a result of a programme of work that Profs Thøgersen-Ntoumani and Stamatakis (co-investigator; University of Sydney) have conducted over the past approx. 5 years. VILPA addresses many of the barriers adults experience and is particularly suitable for adults who are not motivated or who are unable to do structured physical activity. The present project represents the world’s first intervention to promote VILPA and addresses several of the UN Sustainability Goals (Good health and well-being, Gender equality).

The Ph.D. project will be closely aligned with, yet distinct from, the overarching initiative. It will focus on conducting target group analysis, co-designing the VILPA intervention with stakeholders, and contributing to the intervention's evaluation. The research will utilize a combination of secondary data sources, interviews, observations, co-design workshops, and assessments of physical activity, health, and well-being. As with all Ph.D. projects, there is considerable academic freedom to address these tasks within the project's scope.

The candidate will be enrolled at the PhD School in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Information about the Ph.D. school, available PhD courses for student training, course obligations and other information can be found here: https://www.sdu.dk/en/forskning/phd/phd_skoler/phdskolensundhedsvidenskab

Qualifications

• A first degree and a Masters degree in physical activity or exercise science, psychology (preferably health or social), behavioural science, public health, or related disciplines.
• Academic training or relevant experience related to physical activity interventions and/or behaviour change models
• Excellent English written communication skills
• Experience with analysing qualitative and quantitative data
• Experience with project management of research activities

Applicants with proficiency in Danish, both written and verbal, will be given priority.

For further information about the project, please contact:
Prof. Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Danish Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Science, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics - University of Southern Denmark (SDU), E-mail: [email protected]

Applications must include:

• At letter stating the interest, motivation and qualifications for the project (max. 2 pages) - upload under “Application form”.
• Detailed CV, including personal contact information
• Certified copy of diploma (Master’s degree in a relevant field)

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply online".

Attached files must be in Adobe PDF or Word format. Each box can only contain a single file of max. 10 Mb. If you are not asked for a project description above, please upload and empty document in the field “projektbeskrivelse”.

Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated. This also applies to reference letters.

Closing date: 29th of September

Successful candidates will be asked to send an application to the PhD Secretariat, Faculty of Health Sciences, to be enrolled as PhD students.
The PhD programme will be carried out in accordance with Faculty regulations and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities (PhD order)

The terms of employment as a salaried PhD Research Fellow are stated in the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Placering: Odense, Denmark