PhD position on stage-based design approaches for meaningful technologies supporting evolving health conditions and needs

THE CHALLENGE

This PhD research will address the health-related challenges individuals encounter at various stages throughout the progression of their health condition. Many health conditions typically involve multiple stages and levels, with each stage being highly interrelated and characterized by changing needs. Examples include, but are not limited to, the gestational stages of pregnancy and the progressive phases of dementia, both of which have medically defined stages. Additionally, some stages may be self-defined, reflecting the diverse fluctuations and interruptions experienced by individuals over time, mostly beyond medical conceptualizations (e.g., emotional, social). Each stage and the transition points between different stages present unique challenges not only to the individuals moving through those stages, but also to other stakeholders who monitor and care for these individuals.

Capturing the stage-based health needs is essential to design more meaningful and tailored health technologies. This also requires novel perspectives and tailored considerations in the development of design methods and tools to explore idiosyncratic dynamics and needs in multiple stages observed in diverse health conditions. This PhD position focuses on the intersection of the three foci: understanding the stage-based needs, developing stage-based research approaches, and designing technologies for the stage-based needs.

Moreover, in addition to investigating current needs, projecting future staged-conditions and the role of meaningful technologies and data in addressing these stages are important. This involves not only understanding present experiences, but also anticipating how these stages might evolve over time, by employing futuring techniques and forward-thinking approaches. The PhD researcher can develop scenarios and strategies to be prepared for and address the needs of individuals and stakeholders as they navigate various stages of health conditions. Also, they can provide individuals and stakeholders with futuring tools and strategies to help them predict and reflect on their own future needs related to staged-based conditions.

JOB DESCRIPTION
You will explore and further the use of design methods and/or emerging technologies to tackle changing needs in diverse health conditions due to different stages, transitions, and disruptions.

You will reflect and be critical on the medically vs. personally defined; anticipated vs. unexpected; permanent vs. temporary stage-based health conditions; as well as their multifaceted relations with social, cultural, physical, and temporal contexts. You will hereby provide a more holistic and richer representation of the stages and transitions in relation to people’s daily lives, while informing the design space.

You will engage in transdisciplinary collaboration, while adapting a critical approach. Transdisciplinary collaboration involves integrating knowledge and experiences of non-academic stakeholders, beyond diverse disciplines. In this case, transdisciplinarity involves the perspectives of patients, caregivers, medical professionals, relevant communities and associations.

Requirements

• A Master’s degree in industrial design, interaction design, human-computer interaction, biomedical engineering, or a related field;
• A self-directed and motivated learner;
• Ability to critically engage with design methods, tools, and approaches;
• Ability to critically engage with the development and use of emerging technologies;
• Sensitivity to diverse needs and desires of individuals, communities, societies, and the planet;
• Proven skills in involving diverse partners through participatory and transdisciplinary practices;
• Strong relationship-building skills with colleagues, practitioners, and citizens, operating effectively across and beyond disciplines;
• Effective communication skills, suitable for academia and general audiences;
• Enthusiasm for working in an international environment;
• Proficiency in English, both in writing and speaking. Also, proficiency in Dutch is an asset for engaging.

Conditions of employment

• We offer a 4-year position in the Human Centred Design (HCD) group in the Faculty of Engineering Technology at the University of Twente;
• Salary and conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) of the Dutch Universities;
• Opportunities for professional and personal growth;
• Excellent working conditions in an exciting scientific environment, set in a green and lively campus;
• Dedicated mentorship and access to top-notch facilities;
• Inclusion in a professional and personal development program within Graduate School Twente;
• Trainings by the graduate school to develop your academic skills and take the first steps towards your professionalization;
• Support (e.g. financial, facility) for participating in international conferences and writing papers to share your work with academic community, and also in other transdisciplinary contexts to co-generate knowledge with diverse citizen groups
• A working space shared with other PhDs, providing opportunity for valuable exchanges and support;
• Starting salary of €2.872,- in the first year, rising to €3.670,- in the fourth year gross per month;
• Holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• Minimum of 29 holidays per year for full-time employment;
• Full employee status at the University of Twente, including pension and healthcare benefits.

Department

We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which leads change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente (UT) is the only campus university of the Netherlands; divided over five faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes. We have a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out groundbreaking research.

The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) is one of the five faculties at UT. ET engages in education and research of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. We enable society and industry to innovate and create value using efficient, solid and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first' university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading center for smart production, processes and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to about 2,900 Bachelor's and Master's students, 550 employees and 150 PhD candidates. Our educational and research programmes are closely connected with UT research institutes Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.

Additional information

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before November 8th, 2024. Applications will be reviewed by the recruitment committee and shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview within two weeks of the results being communicated.

Documents you need to submit to apply to the position:

• CV including publications (if any);
• Portfolio displaying significant projects and skills;
• Cover letter describing your motivations and ambitions to pursue a PhD, your interests in the topic, and the reasons why you would be the perfect match for this specific position.
• Contact details of references.

For more information you can contact Dr. Asli Günay, via e-mail: a.gunay@utwente.nl