Project
We offer a full-time PhD position under the joint supervision of Prof. Christophe Delecluse (KU Leuven), Prof. Evelien Van Roie (UHasselt) and Prof. Jannique van Uffelen (KU Leuven) in the field of prevention of age-related declines in muscle power and functional ability.
In order to promote healthy ageing and independent living, the World Health Organization recommends older adults to engage in resistance exercise at least twice weekly. However, only a minority of the older population complies with these guidelines, stressing the urgent need to develop comprehensive strategies to implement resistance exercise programs in the community. This PhD project will be performed in close collaboration with IPitup vzw, who developed outdoor activity benches (hardware), an accommodating smartphone app with exercise instructions and training courses (software) as a low-cost modality for resistance exercise in the general population. The aim is to build upon these existing structures and co-develop an optimized, progressive resistance exercise program for community-dwelling older adults, which can be performed in small groups without the need for specialized training experts. The program’s feasibility, efficacy to improve muscle strength and power and implementation potential will be tested in a randomized controlled trial.
Profile
- You obtained a relevant Master’s degree, preferable within Movement Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences, or Biomedical Sciences. Final year students are strongly encouraged to apply!
- You achieved excellent results during your study program (at least with distinction).
- You are enthusiastic to apply your university knowledge about designing, conducting, and analyzing experimental research designs
- You are able to take on responsibilities, to work independently and as part of a team, and to respect deadlines.
- You have the ability to motivate people to participate in your studies, and you have good organizational skills to plan and organize your studies.
- You have good oral and written communication skills in English and Dutch.
- You like organizing exercise sessions for participants in general but older ones in particular.
Short jobdescription
- To perform scientific research in preparation of a PhD thesis (see project) in collaboration with experts in the field and under supervision of Prof. Christophe Delecluse, Prof. Van Roie and Prof. van Uffelen.
- Organization of the studies, recruitment and follow-up of participants, statistical analysis of the data, writing scientific papers.
- To supervise bachelor and master internships and master theses within the research domain.
- To provide teaching assistance in the Department of Movement Sciences.
Offer
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Christophe Delecluse, tel.: +32 16 32 90 76, mail: christophe.delecluse@kuleuven.be or Mrs. Evelien Van Roie, tel.: +32 16 37 94 31, mail: evelien.vanroie@kuleuven.be.
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