项目介绍

2025年3月10日

The Department of Movement Sciences (KU Leuven) is looking for a dynamic and highly motivated PhD candidate with a strong interest in developing and implementing exercise interventions for an older population (65+ years).

The research team of Prof. Delecluse within the Department of Movement Sciences performs in-depth research in force-velocity characteristics of (older) muscles and has extensive expertise in developing, optimizing and implementing exercise programs in older populations. As randomized controlled trials require a highly multidisciplinary approach, close collaborations with colleagues in complementary domains (gerontology, biomechanics, physiology, motor control, cognition, behavioral change) have been set up.

Website van de eenheid

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

We offer the PhD candidate a full-time employment. The initial appointment is for one year and will be extended upon positive evaluation (3.5 years in total), in order to write a doctoral thesis within this timeframe. Successful completion of the PhD program will result in a doctoral degree in Biomedical Sciences. 

Interested?

Applications must consist of a motivation letter and a CV. You can apply via our online application tool. All documents should be submitted in English. The deadline for application is April 18th, 2025. Interviews will take place in the period from April 22nd to May 2nd 2025. 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.You can apply for this job no later than April 18, 2025 via the online application tool

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