PhD researcher on citizens and the ethics of health technology innovations

The Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law (Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven) is looking for a PhD student to conduct research on citizens’ perceptions on the ethics of health technology innovations. The project is part of a FWO funded senior research project (G004324N).
The Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law at KU Leuven (www.cbmer.be) is an interdisciplinary research centre that analyzes ethical, legal, and societal questions regarding biomedicine and healthcare. The research groups collaborate closely with researchers from KU Leuven and Leuven University Hospitals, as well as with various external partners such as healthcare providers, patient organizations, healthcare institutions, governmental representatives at national, European, and international levels. Staff members publish research in international academic journals, participate in national and international research projects, disseminate their findings through participation in national and international conferences, and are involved in providing ethics advice to academic and professional organizations.

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Project

The project’s overall objective is to investigate how Flemish citizens (e.g. general public, citizen groups, patients and users, informal caregivers) perceive the ethics of health technology innovations as a generic social phenomenon. These insights will be used to develop an ethical framework with recommendations regarding criteria that support ethically responsible design, development, and use of health technology innovations that are fully embedded in society.

Health technology innovations can be defined as material embodiments of knowledge into devices, crafts, techniques, procedures and systems, to be used as tools to deal with health problems and improve well-being and quality of life.

The sub aims of this project are (1) to qualitatively analyze how Flemish citizens perceive the ethics of health technology innovations; (2) to quantitatively analyze how Flemish citizens perceive the ethics of health technology innovations and to determine which sociodemographic variables influence their perceptions; (3) to formulate ethical recommendations to guide the ethical design, development, and use of health technology innovations; (4) to translate these ethical recommendations into a digital Mind Map to be used to support dialogue and discussion with citizens on ethically responsible design, development, and use of health technology innovations.

Profile

• You will conduct research (qualitative focus group study, quantitative survey study, ethical analysis) in the described research domain. This research aims to lead to a doctoral degree (PhD).

• You have completed a Master’s Degree in Bioethics, Social Sciences, Psychology, Philosophy, Theology, Medicine, Nursing, or another relevant discipline.
• You can present very good study results.
• You have experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• You can write and speak English fluently and preferably also Dutch (for the qualitative and quantitative studies)
• You are enthusiastic, ambitious, dynamic, and open to challenges.
• You have good organizational and social skills and can work independently.
• You can work in an international multidisciplinary team.
• You will contribute to collective activities of the research group (such as educational services, conferences, etc.)
• You have not yet worked in the status of doctoral grantee.

Offer

We offer a full time doctoral fellowship for the period of min. 1 year. After positive evaluation, the fellowship will be renewed (total duration: 4 years). The research will take place at the Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, KU Leuven under the supervision of Professor Chris Gastmans and Professor Yvonne Denier.

The start date will be determined in consultation with the candidate with the ambition to start no later than 15 September 2024.

Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Chris Gastmans, tel.: +32 16 37 33 03, mail: chris.gastmans@kuleuven.be or Prof. dr. Yvonne Denier, tel.: +32 16 37 33 34, mail: yvonne.denier@kuleuven.be.

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.