MSc: Development of adjunct behaviour change interventions for bariatric surgery (Interchange Study)
Project summary:
The REsearch on Bariatric care for Obesity tReatmeNt (REBORN) study is an ongoing longitudinal of patients undergoing bariatric surgery being conducted at the CIUSSS-NIM, which has one of the largest outpatient bariatric surgery clinics in Canada. The study has a multi-disciplinary investigative team, which includes a variety of stakeholders (researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, and policy makers). As part of this study we have identified a great need to develop appropriate adjunct behavioural interventions to bariatric surgery that improve patients long-term quality of life and clinical outcomes.
The current funded study will use standard methodologies (e.g., eDelphi process, concensus meetings, initial feasibility and optimisation studies) to help with defining and refining the content and mode of delivery of a variety of adjunct behavioural interventions targeting patients who are undergoing bariatric surgery. The position will be based at the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, which is a collaborative centre between the CIUSSS-NIM Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montreal, Concordia University, and UQAM
Position summary:
The individual who is selected for this position will be expected to work with study PI’s, Drs. Simon Bacon and Kim Lavoie, in delivering the project. The MSc student will be able to work on a variety of research-related aspects of the study including:
- Delivery of the multi-stakeholder eDelphi process
- Coordination of the consensus meeting and analysis of output from it
- Constructing specific intervention content
- Development of feasibility and optimisation testing protocols
- Participating in stakeholder engagement activities
Required Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Psychology, Physiology, Kinesiology/Exercise Science, Medicine)
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated research productivity (e.g., honours thesis, conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications)
- Ability to work autonomously and take a lead role on projects under supervision of principal investigators
Preference will be given to candidates with:
- Experience using integrated stakeholder engagement strategies
- Openness to learn new methods and techniques in an applied clinical setting
- Ability to communicate (orally) in both English and French
Provincial, national and international candidates are encouraged to apply
Start date, Duration, Stipend, and Location
The MSc will start in September 2022 (though there is also the possibility of starting during the summer of 2022); funding has already been received.
The funding package consists of a minimum 2-year stipend (consistent with Fonds de Recherche du Quebec funding levels) plus conference / training funding. For out of province and international candidates there are also tuition waivers potentially available.
The successful candidate will be registered either at Concordia University in the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology (www.concordia.ca); the actual work would be conducted at the CIUSSS-NIM, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montreal (https://rechercheciusssnim.ca/). Please note that the language of instruction at Concordia is English.
To apply, please forward the following:
- A complete curriculum vitae, including summary of GPA’s, a full publication list (including hyperlinks where possible) and email contact details for two referees
- A letter of motivation and statement of research accomplishments and future research goals
How to apply:
- The complete application package must be emailed to: apply@mbmc-cmcm.ca. Please include “MSc Interchange” in the subject line.
- Queries about the application should be sent to either Dr. Lavoie (lavoie.kim@uqam.ca) or Dr. Bacon (simon.bacon@concordia.ca).
- The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday December 10, 2021, 5 pm EST. Interviews will be conducted in January 2022 and the successful candidate will need to apply to the University by the official application deadline.