Institution (Location)
ETH Zurich (based in Singapore)
Start Date
June 1, 2020
Position Description

As a Senior Scientist in Digital Lifestyle Coaching, you will conduct a series of digital health intervention studies, applying different methodologies (e.g., quantitative and qualitative), to help identify the best smartphone-based and chatbot-delivered intervention components that aim to prevent T2D in vulnerable individuals and support patients in managing their T2D. You will closely collaborate with our research partners from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH) and the Physical Activity and Nutrition Determinants (PANDA) research program at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the National University Health System (NUHS), while working with both vulnerable individuals in a public health context and T2D diabetes patients in a clinical context, to develop an effective digital lifestyle coaching. Together with a team of three doctoral students / research staff (with a background in health psychology, public health, behavioural medicine and technology management), study nurses and software engineers, you will develop a conceptual intervention model and conduct a pilot study in Year 1. Moreover, you will conduct optimization trials in Year 2, and a pilot randomized controlled trial in the last 2.5 years. All trials must consider key findings from implementation science so that the resulting digital coaching can be easily adopted by the Singaporean healthcare system (e.g., Health Promotion Board, National Parks Board, hospitals and polyclinics, health insurer, digital health start-ups) and other (business) organizations (e.g. universities). You will also undertake promotional activities to increase community awareness of the coaching service through conferences, workshops, seminars, and social media engagement, while also undertaking evaluations and preparing study protocols and written publications for high quality, peer-reviewed journals. You will also present results at local and national scientific meetings and prepare grant applications for research funding. This is a unique opportunity to build your research profile leading a high-quality, governmentfunded project. Amongst the many benefits associated with working at SEC, you will also be affiliated with NUS and receive formal and informal professional development and mentoring, and supervise PhD students, while making a real-world impact on vulnerable individuals and patients with T2D in Singapore. The preferred start date is July 1st, 2020. Candidates will be screened on a continuous basis until the position has been filled. The position is planned for 4.5 years if a midterm review of the research activities after 2 years results in a positive evaluation. Please note that the employment will be at the Singapore-?ETH Centre and local working regulations will apply. Workplace is Singapore.

Candidate’s Qualifications (who should apply)

Successful candidates have a strong track record in digital health interventions, preferably in the field of behavioural lifestyle medicine (e.g., exercise and diet) and T2D. Candidates are also required to have a doctoral degree, as well as experience in public health interventions, clinical trials, computer science, technology management, and they are familiar with the ethical, legal and health-political challenges of medical research, and in writing grant applications. Important qualifications for this position are excellent communication skills in English, positive experiences with interdisciplinary collaborations, a sense for pursuing overreaching goals, and the capacity to establish a wide local, national and international network with researchers, clinicians, digital health entrepreneurs, and the Singaporean healthcare system.

How to Apply

Please find more details about the position and the application process here: https://www.jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOPG_ethz_7xOT0aqaLg51bOqONn

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