Postdoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health

 Opportunity open for São Paulo Research Foundation-FAPESP postdoctoral fellowship linked to the Thematic Project “Cluster randomised controlled trial for late life depression in socioeconomically deprived areas of São Paulo, Brazil” (PROACTIVE), jointly financed by FAPESP and the Medical Research Council of UK.

The main objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention for elderly people with depression enrolled in 20 Basic Health Units (UBS) with Family Health Strategy in the municipality of Guarulhos, State of São Paulo. Details about the pilot project that preceded this research can be found at http://agencia.fapesp.br/24705/.

The candidate will act as the Psychosocial Intervention Coordinator. Activities of the candidate: organize the logistics of the psychosocial care, contact the Managers of the 10 UBS allocated to the intervention group; finalization and test of the application that will be used during the psychosocial sessions and the manuals for training of Community Health Workers (CHW) who will perform the intervention; supervise and evaluate the quality of data entry on the study server; coordination and participation in the training of the CHWs in the UBS and supervision of the professionals responsible for the supervision of CWSs in the Basic Health Units.

The candidate will work closely with the postdoctor who will be responsible for the Coordination of Research to ensure that participants in the Clinical Trial are recruited and referred by the research team to the psychosocial sessions within the schedule of the study.

The candidate will be supported by Prof. Scazufca to ensure that the methodological procedures of the study are followed according to the approved project. Important decisions regarding the progress of the clinical trial will be discussed during the weekly study Management Committee meetings, which will be attended by Dr Scazufca, Prof Araya (United Kingdom), postdoctoral fellows (Research and Intervention Coordinators), PhD and Technical Training and, when necessary, the Brazilian and UK researchers associated with the study.

During the fellowship period, the applicant should actively participate in the preparation of manuscripts and scientific reports. The candidate will attend the three study General Coordination meetings, which will have the participation of the Brazilian and the UK researchers. These meetings will take place in São Paulo and in London. The candidate is expected to demonstrate knowledge, skills and competences in coordinating population based studies, preferably clinical trials, supervision of psychological / psychosocial care, and data analysis and interpretation.

 

Requirements

• (1) PhD in areas related to Health Sciences;
• (2) Proficiency in Portuguese and English (reading, writing, speaking). Unusually for this position fluency in Portuguese language is necessary for the smooth running of the project and execution of the activities provided for in the work plan.
• (3) Full-time dedication to the project;
• (4) Experience in the preparation of reports and scientific articles;
• (5) The candidate must be available to start the postdoctoral fellowship once the FAPESP Granting Agreement has been signed. 
  

 

Selective process

The position is open internationally. The selection process will have two phases:

• 1. Evaluation of the profile of the candidates through the analysis of the documents sent (eliminatory phase);
• 2. Interviews with the candidates (in person or video conference). The result will be announced by email at the end of the selection process. 

 

Additional information

This opportunity is open to candidates of any nationalities. The selected candidate will receive a FAPESP's Post-Doctoral fellowship for a period of 36 months in the amount of BRL 7,174.80 monthly and a research contingency fund, equivalent to 15% of the annual value of the fellowship which should be spent in items directly related to the research activity. More details on the FAPESP postdoctoral fellowship can be found at http://www.fapesp.br/en/5427.

More information about the fellowship is at: http://www.fapesp.br/oportunidades/2301/

Eligible destination country/ies for fellows: Brazil

Eligibility of fellows: country/ies of residence: All

Eligibility of fellows: nationality/ies: All