Junior or Postdoctoral Researcher: Digital Decision Support for Health-App Recommendations

Junior or Postdoctoral Researcher: Digital Decision Support for Health-App Recommendations

Working at the UvA

Join us!

Health apps and other person-centered digital health technologies have the potential to improve healthcare and public health. Yet, their benefits are not distributed equally. People who use health apps tend to be younger, more highly educated, more affluent, and more digitally literate. At the same time, healthcare professionals may be more likely to recommend apps to people with a higher socioeconomic position. This is a concern because people with lower health literacy often depend strongly on professional guidance when making decisions about digital health technologies. Many healthcare professionals, however, report that they lack the knowledge, confidence, or practical tools to determine whether a health app is appropriate for a particular individual. This may reinforce existing inequalities in access to safe, effective, and suitable digital health support.

Working at the UvA

Join us!

Health apps and other person-centered digital health technologies have the potential to improve healthcare and public health. Yet, their benefits are not distributed equally. People who use health apps tend to be younger, more highly educated, more affluent, and more digitally literate. At the same time, healthcare professionals may be more likely to recommend apps to people with a higher socioeconomic position. This is a concern because people with lower health literacy often depend strongly on professional guidance when making decisions about digital health technologies. Many healthcare professionals, however, report that they lack the knowledge, confidence, or practical tools to determine whether a health app is appropriate for a particular individual. This may reinforce existing inequalities in access to safe, effective, and suitable digital health support.

All about this vacancy

Your tasks

You will contribute to the development and evaluation of a digital decision-support tool that enables healthcare professionals to assess, within the time constraints of a consultation, whether a labelled health app is suitable for an individual patient or user. The tool will be developed in close collaboration with European partners who contribute complementary expertise in health equity and public health, healthcare-professional competences, and patient perspectives.

Tasks:

  • Co-develop and conduct empirical research to evaluate the decision-support tool (in terms of feasibility, usability, acceptability, and potential value in clinical practice) as described in the vacancy text in collaboration with the project supervisers and members of the broader consortium.
  • Analyse and translate research findings into recommendations for implementation, healthcare-professional training, and the further development of the tool
  • Collaborating and communicating with interdisciplinary consortium partners and disseminating findings through scientific publications, project deliverables, and practice-oriented outputs, in line with open-science principles.
  • present your work at (inter)national conferences;

What you have to offer

The ideal candidate has strong quantitative and qualitative research skills and an interest in digital health, (digital) health literacy, and equity. Experience with user-centred design is an advantage. The candidate should be able to work independently while collaborating effectively in an international, interdisciplinary consortium, and should have excellent English communication skills and a strong commitment to open science. Candidates who hold either a (research) master’s or PhD degree may apply.

What do we offer you

The position concerns temporary assignment of 19 hours per week for a maximum term of one year starting January 1st 2027 as part of or in addition to your current employment contract. The assignment may be combined with another postdoctoral project or with teaching duties (current position as Researcher or Teacher). In consultation with the project team, it may also be possible to complete the project in a shorter timeframe by working more hours per week.

All about this vacancy

Your tasks

You will contribute to the development and evaluation of a digital decision-support tool that enables healthcare professionals to assess, within the time constraints of a consultation, whether a labelled health app is suitable for an individual patient or user. The tool will be developed in close collaboration with European partners who contribute complementary expertise in health equity and public health, healthcare-professional competences, and patient perspectives.

Tasks:

  • Co-develop and conduct empirical research to evaluate the decision-support tool (in terms of feasibility, usability, acceptability, and potential value in clinical practice) as described in the vacancy text in collaboration with the project supervisers and members of the broader consortium.
  • Analyse and translate research findings into recommendations for implementation, healthcare-professional training, and the further development of the tool
  • Collaborating and communicating with interdisciplinary consortium partners and disseminating findings through scientific publications, project deliverables, and practice-oriented outputs, in line with open-science principles.
  • present your work at (inter)national conferences;

What you have to offer

The ideal candidate has strong quantitative and qualitative research skills and an interest in digital health, (digital) health literacy, and equity. Experience with user-centred design is an advantage. The candidate should be able to work independently while collaborating effectively in an international, interdisciplinary consortium, and should have excellent English communication skills and a strong commitment to open science. Candidates who hold either a (research) master’s or PhD degree may apply.

What do we offer you

The position concerns temporary assignment of 19 hours per week for a maximum term of one year starting January 1st 2027 as part of or in addition to your current employment contract. The assignment may be combined with another postdoctoral project or with teaching duties (current position as Researcher or Teacher). In consultation with the project team, it may also be possible to complete the project in a shorter timeframe by working more hours per week.

Your place at the UvA

You will work in this team

The project will be supervised by Dr. Christin Scholz and Dr. Annemiek Linn. You will be part of the program group Persuasive Communication the Amsterdam Center for Health Communication/ACHC, and the greater Label2Scale consortium.

About the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG) is the largest educational and research institution in the field of social and behavioural sciences in Europe. Here, we explore societal and human-centered issues, driven by scientific curiosity but also with an eye for current themes. For example, the impact of media and communication on individuals and society, healthcare challenges, global urbanization, human development, the role of political institutions, understanding the human mind, growing inequality, diversity issues, and changing social relationships.
In Europe and beyond, the FMG holds a leading position, thanks in part to its more than 1,300 staff members who contribute to education and research. Will you be one of them?

Your place at the UvA

This is where you will be working

You will work in this team

The project will be supervised by Dr. Christin Scholz and Dr. Annemiek Linn. You will be part of the program group Persuasive Communication the Amsterdam Center for Health Communication/ACHC, and the greater Label2Scale consortium.

About the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG) is the largest educational and research institution in the field of social and behavioural sciences in Europe. Here, we explore societal and human-centered issues, driven by scientific curiosity but also with an eye for current themes. For example, the impact of media and communication on individuals and society, healthcare challenges, global urbanization, human development, the role of political institutions, understanding the human mind, growing inequality, diversity issues, and changing social relationships.
In Europe and beyond, the FMG holds a leading position, thanks in part to its more than 1,300 staff members who contribute to education and research. Will you be one of them?

Important to know

Your application & contact

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application (including motivation letter and CV) by October 15 2026. Questions about the project content can be addressed to dr. Christin Scholz ([email protected]), or dr. Annemiek Linn ([email protected]).

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

As an employer, the UvA maintains an equal opportunities policy. We value diversity and are fully committed to being a place where everyone feels at home. We nurture inquisitive minds and perseverance and allow room for persistent questioning. With us, curiosity and creativity are the prevailing culture.
Studies show that women and members of underrepresented groups only apply for jobs if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Do you meet the educational requirements but not yet all of the requested experience? The UvA encourages you to apply anyway.

Important to know

Your application & contact

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application (including motivation letter and CV) by October 15 2026. Questions about the project content can be addressed to dr. Christin Scholz ([email protected]), or dr. Annemiek Linn ([email protected]).

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.
As an employer, the UvA maintains an equal opportunities policy. We value diversity and are fully committed to being a place where everyone feels at home. We nurture inquisitive minds and perseverance and allow room for persistent questioning. With us, curiosity and creativity are the prevailing culture.
Studies show that women and members of underrepresented groups only apply for jobs if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Do you meet the educational requirements but not yet all of the requested experience? The UvA encourages you to apply anyway.

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