The LABDA project

LABDA (Learning Network for Advanced Behavioural Data Analysis) is an EU-funded MSCA Doctoral Network that brings together leading researchers in advanced movement behaviour data analysis at the intersection of data science, method development, epidemiology, public health, and wearable technology to train a new generation of creative and innovative public health researchers via training-through-research. Via training-through-research projects, 13 doctoral fellows will establish novel methods for advanced 24/7 movement behaviour data analysis of sensor-based data, examine the added value of advanced behavioural data analysis and multi-modal data for predicting health risk and facilitate the use and interpretability of the advanced methods for application in science, policy, and society. Find out more here one youtube.

PhD project:

As a PhD student in the project “Universal taxonomy of 24-hour movement behaviours and behaviour dynamics” the candidate will play a central role in the network by developing a taxonomy of daily human activities to enable inter-operability, harmonisation of large datasets of movement sensor data. Your challenge will be to develop methods for finding the optimum composition of time spent in different daily behaviour for health. You will explore combining compositional data analysis techniques with temporal analysis to understand daily human behaviour dynamics and its relationship to health and disease. You will investigate and investigate how multi-modal data can enhance understanding of human behaviour dynamics.

Your specific responsibilites will be to:

Offer Description:

Applications are invited for 1 Doctoral Candidate (DC) position. The successful candidate will also be enrolled for a fee free PhD at Glasgow Caledonian University. The PhD training includes carefully selected placements with academic and industry partners.

The successful candidate will receive an attractive salary in accordance with MSCA regulations for Doctoral Candidates. The salary includes living allowance, a mobility allowance, and a family allowance (if applicable). The position will fund a PhD for the period of employment (a total of 36-months). This project is funded by UKRI as part of the LABDA project which is Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks under the EU Research and Innovation programme Horizon Europe.

Requirements:

We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious scientist with an excellent academic track record, educated to Master level in health science, human movement science, data science, biostatistics, mathematics, physics, statistics or closely related fields.
Applicants must have:

To be eligible, applicants need to fulfil the MSCA basic requirements:

Your working environment

You will be hosted in the Data Science for Common Good research group an interdisciplinary research group within Glasgow Caledonian University School of Health and Life Science (led by Prof Sebastien Chastin). The group is supported by a large investment in Data Science infrastructure with high performance computing and 360 visualisation suite.

Glasgow Caledonian University - the University for the Common Good - is a vibrant, values-led, multi-cultural, civic University with a global outlook and strong commitment to delivering social innovation and sustainable development in its education and research.

Our organisational strategy is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and our globally recognised researchers advise governments, industry and international bodies. We’re ranked fourth in the world and first in the UK for promoting gender equality, in the top 70 universities globally for social impact, and first in Scotland for health and wellbeing, and reduced inequalities, for which we are also ranked 21st in the world (THE Impact Rankings, 2022). In 2020-21, we contributed £1.7 billion and more than 14,000 jobs across the globe (BIGGAR Economics, 2022). Guided by our values – integrity, responsibility, creativity and confidence - we transform the lives of the people and communities we serve.

As the University for the Common Good, we are committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as our values in everything that we do. As such, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who demonstrate the GCU Values.

Glasgow Caledonian University is committed to a fair and transparent recruitment process that is free from bias so that we can attract and retain a high performing workforce which makes a critical contribution to our success.
The University holds the prestigious Athena SWAN Silver institution award, which recognises our significant record of activity and achievement in promoting gender equality across different disciplines.

As a Disability Confident 'Committed' employer, we are striving to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to disabled people. Although the Disability Confident 'Committed' level does not guarantee an interview for disabled applicants, we will make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants during the recruitment process.
The University also holds the Carer Positive ‘Engaged’ employer award, which recognises our commitment to supporting staff with caring responsibilities.

Glasgow Caledonian University are committed signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant.
The University offers a range of benefits including opportunities for professional development, family friendly policies, cycle to work scheme and onsite childcare facilities.

What we offer

This PhD position is funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) of the European Union’s “Horizon Europe 2022” research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101072993. You will be appointed as fulltime PhD for 3 years at Glasgow Caledonian University. The MSCA programme offers competitive and attractive working conditions. The successful candidates will receive a salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for doctoral candidates. Gross salary will consist of a Living Allowance (before tax, employer and employee national insurance costs and pension contributions) 3400 Euro and a monthly Mobility Allowance of €600. An additional family monthly allowance of €660 is applicable depending on the family situation (for additional information see EU MSCA website). Please be aware that these amounts are subject to taxes, the exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment. The research project should result in a PhD thesis.

Application Tips

1. Read the whole text about the vacancy and prepare your CV and motivation letter accordingly.
2. We are taking the motivation letter very seriously. In the letter, try to impress us with the relevancy of your education and professional experience (if any) to the position. Moreover, we appreciate if you could write about what and how you can contribute to the project.

Further information

Let’s meet up
For more information about this position, you can contact prof Seb Chastin (sch4@gcu.ac.uk).
For more information about the application procedure, you can contact recruitement@gcu.ac.uk.

• Apply

External link to GC University job portal