Predoctoral Researcher - Tobacco Control Research

Ref.: 24-055_R_EF

About the research group

The primary objectives of the Tobacco Control research group (Unitat de Control del Tabac in Catalan, UCT) are to advance current knowledge and evidence regarding the determinants and strategies for preventing and controlling tobacco use, as well as exposure to tobacco smoke and e-cigarette aerosols among the population. To achieve these aims, the UCT conducts interventions and epidemiological and implementation research. This includes projects such as assessing the impact of passive tobacco exposure in the population, utilizing markers to measure tobacco smoke and electronic cigarette aerosols in the environment or biomarkers, and implementing new interventions like smoke-free homes.

Additionally, the UCT oversees applied intervention projects such as the Catalan Network of Smoke-free Hospitals and health promotion services like the smoking cessation clinic, which provides support for smoking cessation to both ICO-IDIBELL employees and patients.

The UCT maintains stable collaborations with national and international institutions and agencies, primarily with the Catalan Public Health Agency and including the World Health Organization (WHO), which designated the UCT-ICO as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Tobacco Control. Further information about the Unit can be found at www.icoprevencio.cat/uct.

The UCT is part of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at ICO and the Epidemiology, Public Health, and Cancer Control Program at IDIBELL. Accredited as a research group by AGAUR (Generalitat de Catalunya), it serves as the core of the Tobacco and Respiratory Health research group within CIBERES (Instituto de Salud Carlos III).

Moreover, the UCT is the coordinator of the PIECES project funded by the European Union (No. 101104390), which aims to implement cancer prevention interventions addressing modifiable cancer risk factors including tobacco, alcohol, solar exposure, human papillomavirus, nutrition, and physical activity. More information about the project is available at https://pieces-project.eu.

About the role

We are currently seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our team for the PIECES project. This project aims to develop, evaluate, and disseminate a methodological framework for implementing cancer primary prevention programs. Over the course of the three-year contract, the successful candidate will play a crucial role in implementing and evaluating various interventions targeting key cancer risk factors. These factors include smoking and secondhand smoke exposure, alcohol consumption, poor diet, lack of physical exercise, absence of HPV vaccination, and sun exposure. The candidate will work across diverse settings in Catalonia, including hospitals, universities, and occupational health services.

The outcomes of these interventions will form a substantial component of the candidate's thesis, which will concentrate on implementation research for cancer control. This presents an exciting opportunity for a committed individual to contribute to pioneering research in the realm of cancer prevention and control.

Additionally, the candidate will have the following responsibilities:

• Contribute to the final design of their the thesis project focused on the implementation of four cancer primary prevention interventions.
• Assisting with the fieldwork for cancer prevention interventions related to the thesis.
• Conducting phone calls, in-depth interviews, and other qualitative methods to gather data on the variables of interest.
• Conducting surveys and utilize various quantitative techniques to collect data on the variables of interest.
• Ensuring that ethical considerations are upheld throughout the data collection process.
• Preparing comprehensive reports and presentations summarizing the analysis findings.
• Participating in the PIECES Project annual meetings and other relevant national and international conferences.
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary team members to interpret and integrate qualitative and quantitative findings and derive research conclusions.
• Collaborating and leading manuscript writing, mentored by the thesis supervisors, that will constitute the doctoral dissertation.

The candidate will be enrolled in the Medicine and Translation Research program at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat of Barcelona. They will be under the supervision of Dr. Cristina Martínez and Prof. Esteve Fernández.

Job requirements

Professional experience:

• Not required
  

Education and training:

• Degree in a relevant Life & Health Sciences field such as medicine, nursing, biomedicine, pharmacy, psychology, or other related fields (sociology, statistics, etc.)
• Master's degree in public health, epidemiology and research methods, health promotion, or another related field
  

Technical & soft skills:

• Proficiency in using quantitative software such as STATA or R, as well as qualitative software like inVivo or Atlas ti
• Knowledge in public health, epidemiology, or related fields, particularly with a focus on prevention and primary prevention programs
• Understanding of ethical considerations and best practices in qualitative and quantitative research
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely to both general and expert audiences
  
  

Languages:

• A strong command of the English, Spanish, and Catalan languages is essential. The working languages at the UCT are Catalan, Spanish, and English.
  

We will value, but not required:

• Familiarity with implementation research is advantageous
• Excellent command of English at level C1

What do we offer:

• No. of positions: 1

• Estimated start date: 01/07/2024

• Contract duration: 3 years

• Estimated annual gross salary: 24.500 €
  
  

• You will be part of a multicultural team. We have a fun loving and friendly international work environment.

• Flexible working schedule - We know you have a life outside of work and we will work with you to make sure it's kept that way.
  
  

• Possibility to work some days in remote - Teleworking

• 26 working days of holiday per year

• System of accumulated hours for employees, from 88 to 104 hours depending on the year (11 to 13 working days), to attend to personal matters.

• Paid leave package

• Benefits of constant training are offered

• We offer and promote diverse and inclusive conditions. Applicants are made free from any discrimination. Specifically IDIBELL works to improve gender equality in all areas with the aim of achieving gender balance, but maintaining the most scrupulous respect to any choice at the level of gender identity. Please express yourself freely, safely and non-binarily, if that's the case.
  

Deadline: Please submit your application by 20/06/2024

Data protection notice

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Our institute

IDIBELL is a research center that integrates the biomedical research of the Bellvitge University Hospital (HUB), the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), and the University of Barcelona in the Bellvitge Campus (UB), and the Viladecans Hospital (HV). The research focuses of IDIBELL are cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine and regenerative medicine. Research, innovation and society are the pivots on which researchers work every day in order to improve the quality of life of citizens.

Observations

The 'HR Excellence in Research' award represents IDIBELL’s commitment to the implementation of Human Resources policies, which oversee the attracting and development of talent in an open, transparent, and based on personal merit, in alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment Researchers (Charter and Code).