JOB DESCRIPTION
- Position code: IGTP-PF1
- Research line: Psychosocial Determinants of Adherence to Digital Therapeutics Employing entity Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP)
- Seconding: RMIT University
- Position funded by COFUND, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), Horizon Europe, European Union, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), RMIT University (RMIT)
- Supervisors: Meritxell Davins Riu (IGTP), Vasileios Stavropoulos (RMIT), Gabriela Irrazabal (RMIT)
- Foreseen start date: September 2025
- Gross annual salary 35,400 EUR, plus complements defined below
This research line focuses on the psychosocial determinants affecting patient adherence to prescribed digital therapeutics, particularly telemedicine interventions across various health conditions. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, including indepth qualitative methods such as interviews, focus groups, and thematic analysis, the research line explores the barriers and facilitators to telemedicine adherence among patients with high digital literacy levels. The aim of the research line is to generate actionable knowledge to inform the development of strategies and interventions to enhance patient engagement and improve adherence to prescribed telemedicine therapies, ultimately contributing to the effectiveness of digital health interventions. The proposed project will leverage a comprehensive dataset containing patient records from over 40 health conditions, enabling robust quantitative analyses alongside with qualitative insights. The integration of these methods will provide a holistic understanding of adherence behaviour, identifying key barriers and enablers, offering an evidence-based foundation for exploring strategies to improve adherence rates. These findings will also inform the design and piloting of targeted interventions to enhance the effectiveness of digital therapeutics in real-world settings. By addressing challenges in digital therapeutics adherence, this research contributes to regenerative futures and planetary health by advancing the adoption of restorative healthcare practices. Improved adherence to digital therapeutics enhances individual wellbeing while reducing the environmental footprint associated with traditional in-person care, such as travel and use of resources. Furthermore, optimising digital therapeutics adherence can decrease healthcare system costs while fostering a more resilient and adaptive approach to health interventions that benefits both individuals and the broader ecosystem.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCIE
Academic background: A PhD. in psychology, social psychology, medical/health sociology, or a related field with a strong focus on healthcare attitudes and behaviours.
Research expertise: Experience in mixed methods, with strong skills in both qualitative (interviews, focus groups, hospital ethnography, content and thematic analysis) and quantitative methods (statistical modeling, dataset analysis).
Relevant knowledge: Familiarity with digital therapeutics, digital health interventions, digital health literacy.
Skills: Strong methodological design capabilities, including developing and evaluating interventions.
Advance knowledge of data analysis tools.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for disseminating research findings effectively.
Languages: A strong command of English is required for academic writing, presentations, and collaboration in an international research environment. Intermediate Spanish and/or Catalan is high desirable as these are the primary languages of communication within the local working environment, patients and research stakeholders.
Please note that candidates must not have lived in Spain for more than 12 months in the past three years (since April 2022) and must have been awarded a PhD. This is according to the European Commission's rule, with exceptions only for refugees and national service requirements.
WHAT WE OFFER
Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute offers a 36-month (3-year) postdoctoral full employment contract to work at its facilities in Badalona, Spain as part of the AuSpire researcher training program, co-funded by the European Commission under the MSCA COFUND scheme. The total working hours per week are 38 and there is a probation period of 6 months.
The remuneration, in line with the European Commission rules for Marie SkłodowskaCurie grant holders, will consist of a gross annual salary of 35,400 EUR. The definite amount to be received by the Postdoctoral Fellow is subject to Spanish tax legislation. The position will be jointly supervised by Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (Employing Entity) and RMIT (Seconding Entity), where the Postdoctoral Fellow must undertake a secondment at the headquarters of the latter in Melbourne, Australia for up to 12 months. Additionally, the program includes annual in-person workshops at various locations across Spain, along with online training and networking activities
Benefits include:
- 4,000 EUR relocation for employment stipend to cover costs associated to taking up employment (flights, visa, insurance, etc.), to be distributed monthly as a top-up to the gross salary.
- 9,000 EUR relocation for secondment stipend to cover compulsory project-related travel and accommodation costs (flights, visa, insurance, accommodation, etc.).
- 3,000 EUR travel stipend to cover flights and accommodation for participating in compulsory AuSpire training and networking events in Spain over the 3 years.
- 314 EUR monthly family allowance offered to candidates who meet the criteria.
- Access to all the necessary facilities and laboratories at IGTP and RMIT.
- Access to research and training facilities: Telemedicine program with more than 80 user cases and 3,000 patients enrolled.
- 23 days of paid holiday leave and 5 personal days + 2 days for Easter + 2 days for Christmas.
- Flexible payment (childminding vouchers).
- Becoming a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellow and be invited to join the Marie Curie Alumni Association
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
Deadline set for 3 April 2025, 11.59 pm CET.
About us
The Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) is a public research centre located in Badalona. Its main objective is to increase scientific knowledge in order to transform it into solutions to improve the health and medical care of patients and the community.
The Institute is associated with one of the major university hospitals in the Barcelona area, the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, and is part of the Can Ruti biomedical campus. IGTP is a CERCA centre and is also accredited as a centre of excellence by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and is in charge of coordinating the management and scientific strategy of the campus, working in close collaboration with the other centres.
The Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute carries out research within 9 areas:
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases
- Community Health
- Diseases of the Liver and Digestive Tract
- Endocrine and Diseases of the Metabolism, Bones and Kidneys
- Immunology and Inflammation
- Infectious Diseases
- Neuroscience
- Science of Behaviour and Substance Abuse
Scientists working in these areas publish an average of over 900 papers a year, contribute to improved treatment and healthcare protocols, produce patents and set up spin-off companies in order to improve the lives of patients.
The following video is a bird's eye view of Campus Can Ruti a top-tier translational research environment in the Barcelona area, in a very stimulating scientific environment. The IGTP offers a supportive, friendly and collaborative ecosystem to promote professional development and help you achieve your research goals.
The IGTP, in its commitment to equal opportunities, guarantees equal treatment between candidates and persons with a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33 per 100, as accredited by the Spanish Autonomous Regions or the State Administration, or who have been declared to have a total permanent disability in a different profession through a resolution of the National Institute of Social Security, while retaining functional capacity for the completion of the tasks of the post will be positively considered.
