As part of a National Institute of Health Research nationwide study in England exploring the use of new digital assessments for earlier detection of Alzheimer’s disease, we seek a talented and ambitious candidate to manage the set-up and delivery of a newly introduced Scottish study site.

Inclusion of Scottish primary care sites in digital assessment deployment can help fulfil Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy, while access to opportunities and networks within the Scottish Brain Health ecosystem can accelerate and enhance the development and refinement of our digital assessment development.

Under the supervision of design engineers, clinicians and neuroscientists, the candidate will contribute key data and understanding to the project. This will include qualitative lived experience data from patients, caregivers, members of the public and clinicians that are affected by dementia diseases like Alzheimer’s, as well as mixed-methods user-centred logistical and operations data from pilot use of our new digital tool in GP services. Key skills to be developed include:

• Use of systems design engineering frameworks to healthcare transformation
• Use of inclusive design and participatory design methods for user-centred implementation practice
• Understanding of dementia from people with lived experience
• Principles of Good Clinical Practice research methods for healthcare and medical settings
• Complex project management and organisational skills.

The successful applicant will be based at the University of Strathclyde, working closely with our partners at the University of Cambridge and University College London, as well as Alzheimer Scotland and their affiliated groups at the Scottish Dementia Research Consortium (SDRC), Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG) and National Dementia Carers Action Network (NDCAN). The applicant will have extensive support for professional and personal development, with the following opportunities available:

• Develop research communication skills through communicating progress of research through meetings with Alzheimer Scotland stakeholders such as Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG) and National Dementia Carers Action Network (NDCAN) and Alzheimer Scotland staff
• Networking with researchers that work closely with Alzheimer Scotland, such as SDRC Executive Committee Members, Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre staff, Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice Staff.
• A funded week-long visit with neuroscience and engineering collaborators at University of Cambridge and University College London
• Funded international conference attendance to present project findings upon degree completion.

This position will suit candidates motivated to improve primary care diagnostic services for people living with dementia, create impact in healthcare design and transformation, and work in interdisciplinary research teams grounded in co-design and user-centred design methods.

Further information

Further information about the systems design engineering approach to healthcare and the nature of the digital cognitive assessment can be found within these publications:

Newton C, Jung J, Kleinsmann MS, Clarkson PJ. Designing healthcare systems for earlier diagnosis and prevention of dementia. Proceedings of the Design Society. 2024;4:1637-1646. doi:10.1017/pds.2024.166

C Newton, M Pope, C Rua, R Henson, Z Ji, N Burgess, CT Rodgers, ... D Chan. Entorhinal‐based path integration selectively predicts midlife risk of Alzheimer's disease - Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2024.

Komashie, A., Lame, G., Patou, F., Ciccone, N., Maier, A., & Clarkson, P. J. (2019). Exploring healthcare systems design research and practice: outcomes of an international meeting. Proceedings of the Design Society: International Conference on Engineering Design, 1(1).

Ciccone, Nicholas W and Patou, François and Maier, Anja M (2019) Designing for better healthcare: a systemic approach utilising behavioural theory, technology and an understanding of healthcare delivery systems. Proceedings of the Design Society: International Conference on Engineering Design, 1 (1). pp. 937-946. ISSN 2220-4342

Patou, F., & Maier, A. (2017). Engineering value-effective healthcare solutions: a systems design perspective. In A. Maier, S. Škec, H. Kim, M. Kokkolaras, J. Oehmen, G. Fadel, F. Salustri, & M. Van der Loos (Eds.), Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED17), Vol. 3: Product, Services and Systems Design (pp. 31-40). (Proceedings of the Design Society: International Conference on Engineering Design; Vol. 3).