Predoctoral Research position in the european research project OBCT: Biological, socio-Cultural and environmental risk Trajectories, at the Universidad de Alcalá (Madrid, Spain)

Required qualification:

• University Master's degree giving access to a PhD programme in Spain.
• Degree in a field related to health sciences (medicine, physical activity and sports sciences, nursing, pharmacy...) or in the fields of sociology and political sciences.

Other valued requirements:

• English (written and spoken).
• Interest in public health topics.
• Previous experience in research projects will be highly valued.

1. A better match between the academic training and the activities to be carried out in the research project.
2. Research experience in: National and international research projects; Participation in national and international conferences.

1. Evaluation of candidates' CVs.
2. Personal interview of selected candidates.

Information about the OBCT Project: 

The steady rise in overweight and obesity in Europe disproportionately affects people and communities with a lower socioeconomic position (SEP). Many obesity prevention approaches exist, but these have had limited effects thus far in populations that need it the most: low-SEP subgroups. In this context, there is a need for implementation of effective individual-level and 

population-based strategies that prevent obesity and reduce health inequalities. Effective strategies require consideration of the complex and dynamic interplay between biological, sociocultural and environmental risk factors of obesity across the life course. OBCT provides health professionals, researchers, policymakers and the public with knowledge, maps and tools to support sustainable prevention of obesity, with a particular focus on reducing risk in low-SEP communities. To achieve this, we quantify the contribution of biological, sociocultural and built environment risk factors of obesity and the interactions in and across various life course stages, and translate the resulting knowledge into practical and effective tools for action. 

In line with the most recent WHO recommendations for obesity prevention and management, OBCT will (those in bold will form the framework of the candidate's thesis): 

1. Advance the current understanding of obesity risks and predictors, and the role of SEP across the life-course. 

2. Determine the importance of specific obesity-related behaviours to prevent obesity at key life stage transitions. 

3. Develop and test a holistic obesity risk screener for use by the public at large and by health professionals. 

4. Provide country-specific estimates of trends in general and abdominal obesity at key stages of the life course, EU-wide. 

5. Provide a digital, interactive atlas on the obesogenicity of environments of all local administrative units within the EU. 

6. Characterise obesity-related cardio-metabolic risk profiles over gender, age, SEP within representative EU countries. 

7. Develop tailored recommendations for dietary, physical activity, and sedentary behaviours. 

8. Determine the potential impact of obesity-related policies on inequality. 

9. Develop a microsimulation model to evaluate health and economic impacts of policies, and provide a practical decision support dashboard for policymakers for all European countries. 

10. Provide co-developed and tested toolboxes to support implementation of relevant policy recommendations and preventive interventions in low-SEP communities. 

OBCT’s outputs highlight where and in which domains obesity is to be targeted, and empower the research community, policymakers, health professionals and citizens in Europe to adapt and implement strategies to effectively reduce obesity risk, thereby helping to prevent obesity – particularly in low-SEP communities - throughout Europe. This will contribute to reducing the observed high levels of obesity, addressing related socioeconomic inequalities therein, and preventing obesity-related noncommunicable diseases, thereby facilitating health care savings.