PRR Project

Summary

The mental health crisis across all the age groups puts greater need on a deeper understanding of the origins and evolution of mental disorders, considering an integrative approach of developmental science and clinical psychology, but also the implementation of evidence-based interventions that are increasingly tailored to individual needs and specific developmental challenges (e.g., developmental transitions). The prospective employee is expected to be focused on pursuing high-quality research with substantial scientific autonomy that brings together developmental and clinical psychological science, by aiming: a) to understand the origins and progression of adaptive and maladaptive behavior (i.e., psychopathology) across the lifespan , with a particular focus on developmental transitions (e.g., transition to parenthood) within an ecological approach; b) to focus on a better understanding of women’s mental health from an interdisciplinary perspective (e.g., intersection between biological/reproductive changes throughout development and psychological functioning), aiming to identify factors that promote women’s wellbeing, particularly throughout the perinatal period; and c) to adopt a developmentally-informed approach in the development of cognitive-behavioral interventions targeting the promotion of wellbeing and the prevention/treatment of mental health problems, using new delivery formats (ehealth formats), and to assess its clinical efficacy, economical utility, and implementation issues to guarantee its successful uptake within the community. Within these topics, it is also expected that the employee makes substantial efforts to: a) capture external funding to pursue its research with national and international partnerships; b) establish and reinforce international collaborations related with these research fields (e.g., international consortiums); c) attract early career researchers (e.g., PhD students) to conduct cutting edge research within these topics and to promote their training, with the goal of forming a “special interest group of researchers” in these fields; d) optimize the dissemination of research results and outputs, both for the scientific and the lay communities. Knowledge transfer of research outputs to society (through the Cognitive-Behavioral Clinical Psychology Unit-UPC3) and consultancy services will also be an important task of the prospective employe. Moreover, within the scope of the prospective employee’s research topics, it is expected that his/her work can be aligned with the pedagogical priorities of the host institution (graduate and post-graduation courses ministered at FPCE) and that he/she can support organizational and management initiatives. Scientific profile required by the hiring institution :Based on the previously mentioned tasks, the prospective employee should have a background in Clinical Psychology (cognitive-behavioral approach), with a clear research emphasis and expertise in: a) a clinical developmental approach to understanding wellbeing and psychopathology across the lifespan, particularly in important developmental transitions; b) women’s mental health across the life cycle, with a particular focus in perinatal mental health, maternal health and parenting; c) development and (cost-)efficacy assessment of psychological interventions to promote wellbeing and prevent/treat mental health problems, particularly using new delivery formats such as ehealth . Prior experience in leading research projects and research teams, the ability to establish strategic international collaborations that can improve the quality of the scientific research performed, and to attract and train young researchers will also be required skills to fit this position. Moreover, knowledge transfer skills (dissemination of research outputs to increase its social impact) will be highly valued. Rationale for the need to hire for the indicated scientific area.The Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), based at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (FPCE), aims to pursue its high-quality research in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SND) of the United Nations. This position aims to strengthen the CINEICC’s critical mass in pivotal areas for the implementation of its strategic project, namely in Developmental Clinical Psychology . On the one hand, by integrating a developmental psychopathological approach into understanding and preventing/treating psychopathology across the lifespan, in alignment with the SND 3 (Ensure health lives and promote well-being for all at all ages). On the other hand, by focusing on the interplay between biological (reproductive) and psychological functioning to understand and promote Women’s Mental Health across the lifecycle, and thus strive to reduce the gender gap in mental health, in alignment with the SND 5 (achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls).