MSc Offer: Enhancing the personalisation of an eHealth behaviour change program (ACCELERATION): developing and optimising of the intervention
Project summary:
The ACCELERATION program aims to improve behavioural risk factors associated with the development of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs: cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes). It is a structured 12-week ehealth program that was developed using an integrated knowledge translation process. It primarily targets increasing physical activity, as well as increasing fruit and vegetable consummation, and reducing tobacco smoking. It uses well established behavioural and motivation techniques to enhance intrinsic motivation in participants.
The current funded study will be recruiting individuals at high risk of developing NCDs across three Canadian provinces to further develop and optimise the efficacy of the intervention. Though the project is national in scope, the position will be based at the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre (http://mbmc-cmcm.ca), 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. Kim Lavoie (http://mbmc-cmcm.ca/member/kim-lavoie-2/) and Simon Bacon (http://mbmc-cmcm.ca/member/simon-bacon/), in delivering the project. The MSc student will be able to work on a variety of research-related aspects of the study including:
- Developing aspects of the intervention to be tested
- Co-delivering the online intervention
- Conducting assessments
- Engaging in innovative optimisation study designs
- Development of dissemination tools
- Participating in stakeholder engagement activities
Required Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree in a related applied clinical discipline (e.g., Kinesiology, Psychology, Nursing, Nutrition, Medicine)
- Ability to communicate (orally) in both English and French
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated research experience (e.g., honours thesis, conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications)
- Ability to work autonomously and take a lead role on projects under the supervision of the principal investigators
Preference will be given to candidates with:
- Prior experience conducting research in at least one of the following areas
- Behaviour change interventions
- eHealth interventions
- Integrated knowledge translation
- Implementation science
- Physical activity or dietary interventions
- Secondary chronic disease prevention
- Openness to learn new methods and techniques in an applied clinical setting
Provincial, national and international candidates are encouraged to apply
Start date, Duration, Stipend, and Location
The MSc will start in September 2023 (though there is also the possibility of starting during the summer of 2023); funding has already been received.
The funding package consists of a 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 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
- An example of written research work
How to apply:
- The complete application package must be emailed to: apply@mbmc-cmcm.ca. Please include “ACCELERATION Intervention MSc” in the subject line.
- Queries about the application should be sent to Dr. Bacon (simon.bacon@concordia.ca).
- The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday December 2, 2022, 5 pm ET. Interviews will be conducted in January 2023 and the successful candidate will need to apply to the University by the official application deadline.