Postdoc for the M-CARE Project: Integrated Care in Sub-Saharan Africa

Working at Amsterdam UMC

Postdoc for the M-CARE Project: Integrated Care in Sub-Saharan Africa

Are you a passionate researcher with experience in implementation research and Global Health? Join our M-CARE project team and collaborate with international partners to develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated approach in three Sub-Saharan Africa countries (Ghana, Kenya & Uganda).

The project

The M-CARE project aims to address multiple long-term conditions (MLTC), including non-communicable diseases (MLTC-NCDs) and common mental health problems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This 5-year project focuses on shifting from fragmented models of care to a holistic, integrated approach that provides a whole-person focus. It seeks to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing evidence-based WHO PEN and mhGAP-IG strategies for integrated care of NCDs and common mental health problems in primary healthcare settings in three SSA countries: Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda.

The project’s aim is to improve primary care for patients aged 18 years and older with MLTC-cardiometabolic and common mental health conditions. The intervention will be delivered and evaluated through a pragmatic parallel arm cluster randomized trial in 230 primary care facilities, preceded by codesign with stakeholders.

About your role

As a Postdoctoral Researcher:

• You will coordinate and manage the M-CARE consortium of 7 international partners and report to the funder (European Commission);
• You will facilitate the design, implementation, and evaluation of strategies for the implementation of integrated primary care interventions. This involves close collaboration with all work package leaders within the consortium and precise monitoring of processes, also including the pragmatic trial execution, data collection, and analysis;
• You will analyze effectiveness, process, and implementation level outcomes and write scientific manuscripts;
• You will participate in the supervision of PhD candidates/researchers;
• You will (occasionally) teach or supervise students during their scientific internships.

About you

The successful candidate will have:

• A completed PhD in Public Health, Global Health, or a related field;
• Experience with implementation research and conducting quantitative and qualitative research;
• Strong project management and analytical skills;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Excellent command of the English language (spoken and written);
• Experience in engaging stakeholders, primary care, and randomized trials in SSA is highly desirable;
• Commitment to improving healthcare in SSA.

Our offer

• A flying start to your career in research.
• A one-year contract (12 months) with the intention to extend for the duration of the project (total of 5 years).
• Experience in a large international research project and exposure to other research projects, such as the Generation H study and (pros)RODAM study.
• Working with motivated colleagues from all over the world.
• You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
• Salary scale 10: € 3,493 to € 5,504 gross for a full-time position (depending on education and experience).
• In addition to a good base salary, you will receive an 8.3% year-end bonus and 8% holiday allowance.
• Holiday hours: 190.4 per year for full-time and a possibility to save additional hours.
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.
• For >7 km each way, 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs and, for private transport, €0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km each way.
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme. Moreover, you will receive a reimbursement of €0.18 per km.

About your workplace

As a postdoctoral researcher in the M-CARE project, you will work in a team with the PI and one or more PhD candidates in Amsterdam UMC, as well as colleagues from the other 6 partner universities of the international consortium (mostly online). Additionally, you will meet many other researchers from other projects within the Department of Public and Occupational Health. You will work at Amsterdam UMC, mostly at location VUmc and sometimes at location AMC. The culture is open and friendly. For those who wish, there are plenty of opportunities for social contacts and experiences. The Department of Public and Occupational Health aims to actively contribute to reducing socio-economic health disparities and sustainable international cooperation.

Amsterdam UMC Research BV supports non-profit scientific research. In doing so, we provide researchers with everything they need to excel. Our principal investigators (PIs) and project leaders offer support in the field of project management, finance, and human resources. In medical scientific research projects, legal support is also provided.

Amsterdam UMC has an open culture. This means that we hope that everyone feels welcome in our organization and that we strive to offer equal opportunities to everyone. We therefore cordially invite all interested parties to respond to this vacancy.