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The following table is showing all available positions starting in March 2020. MSCA-ITN offers an attractive salary and working conditions. A unique feature of MSCA-ITN is that during the PhD research, ESR PhD students will be given the opportunity to perform at least two secondments of about 3 months each at the facilities of other consortium members. ESR PhD students will benefit from a dedicated training program in the various fields of expertise of the consortium partners. Salary is complemented with a mobility allowance.
Please check the current availability of the positions on the Euraxess official advertisement.
All positions have already been taken and you can no longer apply.
ESR 1
| Reference: |
| ESR 1 |
Host: |
| TECO (Teco-bioscience GmbH) |
PhD enrolment.: |
| NAPIER (Edinburgh Napier University) |
Start: |
| March 2020 earliest |
Duration: |
| 36 months |
Workpackage: |
| WP 2.1
The monitoring of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the elderly using novel AA methodologies |
Task details: |
| Objectives: The task of ESR1 will be to examine the dynamical interplay between physical activity, sedentary behaviour, the natural environment and SWB in the elderly. Movement and exertion, and in particular, the difference in the amount of physical activity and sedentary behaviour have consistently been found to be related to SWB and a wide range of health outcomes (Rezende, L. et al, PLoS ONE, 2014). We will implement new AA methodologies, incorporating t-SNE analysis, with actigraphy based upon state-of-art wearable devices, to offer novel insights into elderly activity and the relationship to SWB with a particular focus of the impact of environmental factors. The study will also incorporate the development and refinement of a prototype AA method to look at intervention with real-time analysis and real-time feedback of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour.
Expected Results: We anticipate delivering a prototype interactive AA platform with a completed study protocol. This would include longitudinally-derived data of dynamic interaction of the amount of activity in the elderly, their SWB and the impact of the natural environment.
Planned secondments: To LUMC for 8 months (m9-14) for t-SNE algorithms for the AA implementation. To PERC for 2 months (m22-24) to learn about important current biomarkers that could be used to analyse healthy ageing including: a) cardiovascular and lung function, glucose metabolism and musculoskeletal as subdomains of physiological function; b) strength, locomotion, balance and dexterity as subdomains of physicality; c) memory, processing speed and executive function to gauge cognition; d) HPA-axis, sex hormones and growth hormones as important biomarkers of endocrine function and e) inflammation biomarkers as indicators of immunosenescence. To UN for 8 months (m27-32) to learn about residential impacting factors on SWB. |
ESR 2
| Reference: |
| ESR 2 |
Host: |
| PERC (Percuros) |
PhD enrolment.: |
| LUMC (Leiden University Medical Center) |
Start: |
| March 2020 earliest |
Duration: |
| 36 months |
Workpackage: |
| WP 2.1
Presentation of biomarkers / profiles which are indicative of age-related decline in immunity (immunosenescence) in correlation with cognitive tests |
Task details: |
| Objectives: The task of ESR3 will be to look into creating a reference for assessing mental health in relation to immunosenescence. There are currently no criteria or a gold standard of what may be defined as healthy ageing and this creates difficulties when conducting and comparing research across different studies. A cardinal feature of ageing is loss of function, which gets then classified as a ‘disease-related issue’. Unfortunately, health issues such as depression and mental health in the elderly (not directly related to neurodegenerative diseases) tends not to fall into the category of primary illnesses. Our aim is to take the concept of disease towards a broader classification, which includes both classical pathology and well-being on the same health continuum. Our work will therefore look at the immune system and the role of inflammation and to identify biomarkers / profiles of immunosenescence. We will use state-of-art discovery tools, including imaging mass spectrometry and mass cytometry as well as analytical biochemistry, such as flow cytometry, to define the biomarkers of relevance. From this we will identify subdomains of biomarkers that can be correlated with cognition, where will perform behavioural function tests, which includes test batteries for cognitive and motor function (physical capability).
Expected Results: Presentation of immune biomarkers / profiles which are indicative of immunosenescence in correlation with cognitive tests.
Planned secondments: To LUMC for 2 months (m22-23) to learn about new analysis and discovery tools such as imaging mass cytometry. To TUZVO for 12 months (m9-20) for natural environmental impacts on SWB. To HELRIK for 3 months (m27-29) for exploitation of PERC results and business plan. |
ESR 3
| Reference: |
| ESR 3 |
Host: |
| LUMC (Leiden University Medical Center) |
PhD enrolment.: |
| LUMC (Leiden University Medical Center) |
Start: |
| March 2020 earliest |
Duration: |
| 36 months |
Workpackage: |
| WP 2.1
The application of novel progressive visual analytical modelling tools to study affective dynamics and SWB for improved real-time intervention |
Task details: |
| Objectives: The task of ESR3 is to develop modelling tools based upon an AA platform to improve our understanding of SWB in the elderly. We will focus on modelling affective dynamics to reveal new insights into SWB research and provide a prediction of likely clinical outcomes. Methodological tools for capturing and influencing affective dynamics will be developed using 3D data-analytical tools, and in particular, t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbour Embedding (t-SNE), a prize-winning technique for dimensionality reduction that is particularly well suited for the visualisation of high-dimensional datasets. The results would then be translated into algorithms for SWB applications, where we could establish the role of affective dynamics for SWB by collecting longitudinal data that will be analysed with a novel version of t-SNE designed to understand affective dynamics
Expected Results: Completion of novel t-SNE modelling tools which will provide a better understanding of affective dynamics in relation to SWB, and particularly, the predictive value of such tools for prospective studies and real-time feedback and intervention.
Planned secondments: To TERRA for 6 months (m27-33) to learn about sensor data derived from natural environment activities. To TECO for 12 months (m9-20) to gather longitudinal data to determine SWB. And to understand the technology employed to monitor actigraphy. |
ESR 4
| Reference: |
| ESR 4 |
Host: |
| LUMC (Leiden University Medical Center) |
PhD enrolment.: |
| LUMC (Leiden University Medical Center) |
Start: |
| March 2020 earliest |
Duration: |
| 36 months |
Workpackage: |
| WP 2.2
Provision for training of community health workers in relation to the use of new wearable technologies to supporting the elderly |
Task details: |
| Objectives: The task of ESR4 will be to provide healthcare workers and caregivers the education, training and support in the use of new wearable (incorporating sensor technology) devices by the elderly. This will be done in conjunction with the devices developed in WP2.3 to help health professionals to more readily identify signs and symptoms of mental health while supporting the person in the physical world. By embracing these new technologies, the burden on the healthcare worker will be reduced resulting in a wider window for the early recognition of mental health issues such as depression eating disorders, suicide and substance abuse
Expected Results: Trained healthcare workers and care-givers in the use of new wearable (incorporating sensor technology) devices. Test results and drawn-up protocols for use of the wearable devices by the elderly.
Planned secondments: To PROG for 6 months (m11-16) to learn about device interconnectivity and to gain better understanding of privacy and protection of data as it is transmitted over the internet. To TECO for 9 months (m21-29) to be trained on the use of the new technologies. To TERRA for 3 months (m30-32) for landscape ecology training. |
ESR 5
| Reference: |
| ESR 5 |
Host: |
| TUZVO (Technicka Univerzita vo Zvolene) |
PhD enrolment.: |
| TUZVO (Technicka Univerzita vo Zvolene) |
Start: |
| March 2020 earliest |
Duration: |
| 36 months |
Workpackage: |
| WP 2.2
The natural environment, ageing and cognitive function |
Task details: |
| Objectives: The task of ESR5 will address outdoor activities, enabling of natural environments and rural structures to provide those opportunities to partake in physical activity. Research suggests that exposure to nature and time spent outdoors may also have effects on health. Older adults are the least active segment of our population and are likely to spend less time outdoors than other age groups. The relationship between time spent in physical activity, outdoor time and cognitive function will be assessed in the elderly. We will use data from large cohorts of older people, based around 16 countries in Europe, to explore the association between exposure to a natural environment and mental health. The natural environment will be assessed by defining all green space from forests to private gardens. The physical movements of elderly individuals will be followed by GPS, whilst cognitive tests will be used to measure mental capacity.
Expected Results: We would expect consistency with other findings where exposure to green spaces lends a positive influence towards improvements in cognitive function. What would be different in our study is that we hope to go beyond current knowledge and investigate various subgroups and provide qualitative information on gender, socioeconomic status and ethnicity.
Planned secondments: To TECO for 9 months (m18-26) to study novel AA methodologies of experience sampling and ecological momentary assessment, acquisition of ambient environmental parameters and statistics and data modelling, and to TERRA for 9 months (m30-38) to explore the use of wearable device and their monitoring in the natural environment. |
ESR 6
| Reference: |
| ESR 6 |
Host: |
| TUZVO (Technicka Univerzita vo Zvolene) |
PhD enrolment.: |
| TUZVO (Technicka Univerzita vo Zvolene) |
Start: |
| March 2020 earliest |
Duration: |
| 36 months |
Workpackage: |
| WP 2.2
Residential and environmental effects on physical and mental health of the elderly |
Task details: |
| Objectives: As rapid population ageing is becoming a serious social challenge, the task of ESR6 will be to investigate the effects of residential environments and individual resources on the SWB of the elderly with respect to their physical and mental health. A comprehensive theoretical framework of SWB from Lindenberg will be used and applied on the 2010 World Health Organization’s Global Ageing and Adult Health survey (http://www.who.int/healthinfo/sage/en/). Housing quality is known to be related to SWB but much less is known how this relationship varies with national contexts. This study will address housing infrastructure and their locality and their impact upon SWB of elderly citizens in Europe. Data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe will be used and linear regression models of SWB will be estimated for 16 European countries.
Expected Results: We expect that the difference in SWB between older people with a small and a large property is somewhat smaller in countries with a high level of housing quality than in countries with lower housing quality. However, it is likely that we will also identify deviations in some countries or regions where there may be other external indicators impacting upon SWB. It is finding these deviations which will ultimately help us to identify high impacting and non-residential factors that are the drivers to elevating SWB.
Planned secondments: To HIH for 3 months (m18-20) to learn about environmental impacting factors on SWB. To TERRA for 6 months (m21-26) to learn about social housing planning. To TECO for 9 months (m9-17) for analytical biochemistry studies to identifying biomarkers. |
ESR 7
| Reference: |
| ESR 7 |
Host: |
| NCAST (University of Newcastle upon Tyne) |
PhD enrolment.: |
| NCAST (University of Newcastle upon Tyne) |
Start: |
| March 2020 earliest |
Duration: |
| 36 months |
Workpackage: |
| WP 2.3
An intelligent multi-sensor based personalized risk assessment system of elderly gait and stability |
Task details: |
| Objectives: The task of ESR7 will be to design three smart multi-sensor instruments that would allow a personalised assessment of gait and stability in elderly people. A device incorporated with accelerometer, magnetometer and gyroscope sensors will be placed insole shoes, two devices will be placed on thigh and knees and one device will be placed at the back of ear for analysing gait pattern and to detect falling over. A pair of force sensors will also be placed insole for analysing bilateral imbalance. Additionally, a pair of ultrasonic sensors and light intensity sensors will be placed at the front of each shoe for detecting obstacle and darkness. For collecting biological information Electrocardiogram (ECG), Oxygen Saturation (SpO2), Pulse Rate (PR), Respiratory Rate (RR), and Body Temperature (BT) sensors will be placed in a user-friendly chest belt. The information collected from these sensors will be transferred to a local computer using wireless network. The data will be stored and perform different analysis to bring out decisions and provide time to time interventions. The computer will be connected with the internet and be used to perform different analysis to show risks associated with imbalance in the elderly.
Expected Results: We expect to have a vast input of sensory data from the instruments in a variety of situations. These will be initially derived from volunteers in real life and simulated situations. After we have collected the data and optimised the instrumentation, we will put the devices out for everyday use with elderly volunteers.
Planned secondments: To PERC for 9 months (m12-20) to study physiological monitoring techniques. To TECO for 9 months (m21-29) to test out the devices on elderly patients and to draw up protocols for use of the wearable devices by the elderly. |
ESR 8
| Reference: |
| ESR 8 |
Host: |
| UN (University Northumbria Newcastle) |
PhD enrolment.: |
| UN (University Northumbria Newcastle) |
Start: |
| March 2020 earliest |
Duration: |
| 36 months |
Workpackage: |
| WP 2.3
Improving the accuracy of an activity recognition system for elderly people in assisted living |
Task details: |
| Objectives: In our proposed framework the role of ESR8 will be to test wearable sensors that are to be attached onto the dominant wrist and then the ambient sensors will be installed in the environment. When a user performs daily activities at home, their location information will be captured first. At the same time, the information from wearable sensors will be transmitted to the processing centre. In the processing centre, the user’s daily activities or some anomalies will be identified. The results can be sent to the community, caregiver or family members. To enhance the practice of the designed system, the data gathering will be conducted in the subjects’ homes with less interference and they can perform the activities in any order within their own timeframe. The collected data will be pre-processed to remove the high-frequency noise and other disturbances. Then we will explore the optimal window size to segment the serial data for further analysis. In each window, apart from the commonly used features new features will be extracted to improve accuracy.
Expected Results: Mutual information-based algorithms will be used to select the best feature set. Support Vector Machines (SVM) are a set of supervised learning methods used for classification, regression and outlier detection. The selected set will be used as the input into for SVM algorithms.
Planned secondments: To TECO for 3 months (m30-32) for t-SNE data analysis. To TERRA for 3 months (m23-25) to test out the devices in different residences. To PERC for 12 months (m11-22) to study physiological monitoring techniques. |
ESR 9
| Reference: |
| ESR 9 |
Host: |
| NCAST (University of Newcastle upon Tyne) |
PhD enrolment.: |
| NCAST (University of Newcastle upon Tyne) |
Start: |
| March 2020 earliest |
Duration: |
| 36 months |
Workpackage: |
| WP 2.3
A mHealth system of interconnectivity comprised of WBASN to support activity recognition and medical applications |
Task details: |
| Objectives: The development of miniaturized implantable biosensors is an emergent technology resulting from various fields of human endeavour. The task of ESR9 will identify and evaluate the most recent and advanced medical applications using Wireless Body Area Sensor Network (WBASN) MAC protocols, localized routing protocols, multiple access technologies and Internet technologies. This research also takes into consideration the requirements of WBASN applications. WBASN is based on a network of implanted biosensors on/inside the human body for remote health monitoring. This investigation will be performed with descriptive and evaluative mechanisms by involving a network simulator. Moreover, we will propose, implement and test a frame aggregation mechanism for WBASN MAC to make communication more efficient in terms of delay, throughput and energy usage. Further, bridging of WBASN will be done with Wi-Fi and Internet by configuring IPv6 enables routers. Overall, the framework will provide guidelines and demonstration for a complete end-to-end communication framework for WBASN.
Expected Results: A mhealth system using WBASN to support activity recognition will be built where guidelines and a demonstration will be provided for a complete end-to-end communication framework for WBASN.
Planned secondments: To TERRA for 6 months (m11-19) to optimise the system in a healthcare setting. To PERC for 12 months (m20-31) to finalise instrumentation design and process paperwork for volunteer implementation. |
Application: |
| Application |
ESR 10
| Reference: |
| ESR 10 |
Host: |
| INNO (Innoso) |
PhD enrolment.: |
| LUMC (Leiden University Medical Center) |
Start: |
| March 2020 earliest |
Duration: |
| 36 months |
Workpackage: |
| WP 2.3
Relation between vegan food consumption and wellbeing in elderly population |
Task details: |
| Objectives: To study the effect of probiotic vegan foods for increasing vitality and wellbeing of the elderly. The study will highlight the opportunities for modern food developments in the diet of elderly as a way to maintain physical and mental well-being. Many modern vegan foods claim to be alternatives of cheese of meat but while taste or texture may be accomplished, their nutritional value leaves dietary requirements unanswered thus potentially leading to unbalanced diet. ESR 10 that is already trained in food and nutrition will get exposure in the project to methodologies to monitor and analysis specific biomarkers. The focus of the study is on trends such decrease of animal food consumption (vegan foods) and fermented food intake as a way to increase vitality of elderly. Specifically, support of healthy gut microbiota with fermented foods, assurance of adequate protein intake and effect of middle chain fatty acids as a major constituent of coconut products will be addressed. For that the foods will first be positioned based on nutritional benefits and contribution to daily diet. A protocol will be developed for the study of the foods and their effect on these parameters. Results will be analysed to provide opinion on the potential of the studied foods and strategies for their applications in different residential environments. Markers that will be studied in relation to selected vegan and fermented foods such as 1) cardiovascular function, glucose metabolism, musculoskeletal, blood cholesterol levels, and blood pressure will be linked to intake of these foods and physical activity, 2) strength, locomotion, balance and dexterity as subdomains of physicality; 3) memory, processing speed and executive function to gauge cognition; d) HPA-axis, sex hormones and growth hormones as important biomarkers of endocrine function and 4) inflammation biomarkers as indicators of immunosenescence, 5) gut function, 6) taste sensation/satisfaction.
Expected Results: Better understanding of the relation between the use of selected vegan /fermented foods to the physical and mental well-being of elderly and strategies of the incorporation of these foods to the diet in different residential environments and in different European countries. The effect of these foods will represent another dimension of the project, namely the effect of specific foods, to the understanding of the link of physiological markers and well-being in terms of physical activity and mental status.
Planned secondments: To PERC for 2 months (m12-13) to study physiological monitoring techniques and for analytical biochemistry studies to identifying biomarkers. To TUZVO for 12 months (m26-37) for impacts of studied foods intake on SWB To TECO for 2 months (m22-23) AA methodologies of experience sampling, acquisition, statistics and data modelling. |
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