Phd Student Neobait Project

**Functiebeschrijving**:
End-of-life decisions for severely ill newborns are among the most challenging and morally laden decisions in neonatal care. When survival chances are mínimal or the outlook is bleak, parents and healthcare professionals must decide whether to continue burdensome ICU treatment or commence palliative care. These decisions require extensive discussions, but the factors influencing these decisions are often unclear, complicating shared decision-making.
This PhD project aims to investigate how Behavioural Artificial Intelligence Technology (BAIT) can assist in these critical decisions. The goal is to develop a digital decision support tool that facilitates transparent communication between parents and healthcare providers while addressing the legal and ethical aspects of its implementation.
This project is funded by the Palliantie Program of ZonMW (The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development).

**Your PhD Project**
In this interdisciplinary project, you will:

- Identify key factors involved in end-of-life decision-making through a Delphi procedure with neonatologists and other stakeholders.
- Design and conduct a choice experiment to analyze how healthcare professionals make end-of-life decisions in fictitious cases.
- Collaborate with technical partners to develop a BAIT-based digital decision support tool that offers insights into how similar cases are typically approached. Evaluate the ethical and - legal implications of using such a tool in neonatal care.
- Work closely with neonatologists, patient associations, and industry partners to ensure that the tool aligns with clinical and parental needs.

**Your Tasks**
- Collaborate with a multidisciplinary project team, including neonatologists, patient-organisation, ethicists, and AI developers.
- Lead the Delphi study.
- Conduct systematic literature review(s), empirical studies, and data analysis.
- Publish your findings in international peer-reviewed journals and present them at conferences.
- Contribute to the development of the decision support tool and ensure its ethical and practical alignment with clinical use.

**Wat vragen wij**:

- A (research) Master’s degree in Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, Health Sciences, Ethics, or a related discipline.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and social skills, with an interest in empirical research and (learning) data analysis (e.g., R, Python) and AI.
- Affinity for ethical and legal aspects of healthcare innovation.
- Good academic writing, conversation, and presentation skills in Dutch and English.
- The ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and engage with various stakeholders.

**Wat bieden wij**:

- A full-time PhD position for three years to be concluded with a PhD examination. After one year, the performance will be evaluated to decide whether there is sufficient progress to expect a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the coming two years.
- Salary a minimum of € 3.017;
- gross per month in the first year and a maximum of € 3.824;
- Attractive secondary terms of employment.
- Intended start date**:May 1st 2025**
- In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

**More information**
If you have any questions about this position, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact us. We will reply as soon as possible.

**Meer informatie**: Neem voor meer informatie contact op met:
Elisabeth Kooi, telefoonnummer (050) 361 4215
**Solliciteren**:

- confirmation with further information.

**The interviews will take place on Friday afternoon, February 14.