Recruitment Role Profile Form (Template)

Version 1.0
Last amended: February 2011

INTRAS FOUNDATION
Recruitment Role Profile Form

Job Title:

Marie Skodowska-Curie Fellow

School/Department:

School of Psychology, Division of

Salary:

from 28,813 to 35,018 per annum in accordance with the EC Marie

Skodowska-Curie financial guidelines for this scheme

Job Family and Level: Research and Teaching Offscale

Contract Status:

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for a period of 36

months

Hours of Work:

Full time 38.5 per week

Location:
IDES/ INTRAS Foundation, Zamora, Spain. The student will register
for the PHD program Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Salamanca.
Reporting to:
Salamanca)

Professor

Manuel

Franco

(both

in

INTRAS

and

University

of

Purpose of the New Role:

The role is to conduct research and data analysis in Dementia field and to participate in a
European network and training programme. As part of a research team, the successful
candidate will plan and carry out research aimed at evaluating the efficacy of GRADIOR (a
computer based cognitive stimulation programme) with people with Dementia, as well as
undertaking appropriate training development. These efforts will be pursued in the framework
of the Marie Skodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network INDUCT (Interdisciplinary
Network for Dementia Utilising Current Technology). The overarching research goal of the
INDUCT project is to improve the usability of technology in dementia care by evaluating its
effectiveness and implementation issues. This is an interdisciplinary, inter-sectorial, and
international consortium involving 8 countries, 4 international organisations, key sectors and
the right range of disciplines. It is expected that the role-holder will engage in network-wide
training events, public engagement activities and international collaboration through
secondments, at industrial or academic partner institutions within Spain and EU. INDUCT
works with INTERDEM Academy, a large international collaboration enabling training and
development opportunities for all grades of researchers from PhD students to senior academics
to develop capacity for future research in dementia care.
Background
Studies evaluating the effectiveness of specific contemporary technology have found most
studies were small and uncontrolled but people with dementia could use simple electronic
devices for memory support or improving performance in daily activities, and concluded that
more trials were needed working on integrating and applying existing technologies in real life
situations. More randomised controlled studies assessing interventions performed according to
protocol are needed to give stronger statements about the effects of supportive ICT based
interventions and their most promising elements. This objective will be met drawing on the
finding of a broad range of studies including qualitative and process evaluations to identify key
themes which may be associated with benefit for people with dementia and family carers.

Objectives
The objective is to evaluate the efficacy of GRADIOR, a computer-based cognitive rehabilitation
program, on the cognition, mood and quality of life of people living with dementia.
GRADIOR is a multimedia system specifically designed for cognitive assessment and
neuropsychological rehabilitation using a standard computer with a touchscreen interface. The
program comprises 40.500 cognitive exercises covering attention, calculus, executive function,
memory, orientation, perception, reasoning and motor skills. The sessions provide the patient
with immediate feedback and visual and auditory reinforcement to enhance plasticity and
motivation. The treatments are customized to the patient necessities and skills, and exercises
are randomized to avoid the learning effect. These ensures the diversity of exercises content
while maintaining a consistent approach to cognitive activity. The active monitoring of results
enables the therapist to perform independently conducted sessions with multiple patients
through individualized interventions.
Even though the program has been used with more than 5.000 people with and without
cognitive impairment, and more than 3.000 older adults with good clinical evidence about their
efficacy, there is a need to carry out a randomised controlled trial comparing GRADIOR with
paper & pencil technics and assessing if it has specific effects on people with dementia. There
is evidence about efficacy with people with mild cognitive impairment (Gonzalez-Palau et al.,
2014).

Expected Results
The ESR will develop a research project to assess the efficacy of GRADIOR through a
randomized control trial. GRADIOR will be tested at least in Spanish and English language,
coordinating the implementation sites with INTERDEM research network.
The evaluation will provide evidence for the effectiveness in terms of cognition, mood and
quality of life. Other outcome measures will be consider for inclusion by the ESR in the design
of the clinical trial.
Training
Two to 3 month secondments with (1) UK university to learn skills about the validation of
cognitive stimulation programmes (2) INTRAS GRADIOR training centre, Valladolid, to learn
GRADIOR in depth in its clinical assets and programming aspects. (3) To be agreed with the
candidate according to his / her research interests and training needs.

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Requirements
Applicants will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to study in
Spain as defined by the requirements set out by the Spanish Immigration and Emigration
Agency. Applicants with citizenship of a EU state do not need student visa. Applicants from non
EU countries please visit
http://extranjeros.empleo.gob.es/es/informacioninteres/informacionprocedimientos/Ciudadano
snocomunitarios/hoja003/index.html for visa information in Spanish, and for visa information
in English.
The successful applicant will be required to satisfy the eligibility criteria for Marie Curie Early
Stage Researchers, i.e:
Must not already hold a PhD;
Must be within the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research career;
Must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) within
Spain for more than 12 months in the three years immediately prior to their recruitment.

Main Responsibilities
1.
2.
5.
6.

% time
per year

To scope a research aimed at assessing the efficacy of GRADIOR cognitive

rehabilitation program in Spanish and English.
To coordinate the implementation of experimental groups with approximately
120 participants (60 in Spain and 60 in UK).
To collect and analyse the data, write it up a PhD thesis and disseminate.
To collaborate with I+D+I research team in INTRAS Foundation. To participate
in INDUCT international networks and training meetings and in University of
Salamanca training and development opportunities.

20
30
30
20

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications/
Education
Skills/Training

Essential
Masters degree with a strong
element
of
research
methods,
including quantitative methods.
Competent User of the English
language (IELTS 6.0, minimum of 5.0
in each subset)

Desirable
Gerontology, neuropsychology or
clinical psychology background.

Competent
language.

Ability
to
produce
scientific
outputs for publication in peer
reviewed journals.

user

of

the

Spanish

Excellent communication (oral and

written), and interpersonal skills.

A methodical and accurate

approach to work with attention
to detail.

Ability to guide novices to engage

with computers.

Ability to coordinate research studies

related to the validation of a clinical
tool.

Experience

Ability to work without direct

supervision; to manage own workload
and meet deadlines.
Extended contact with people with
dementia in a professional or private
capacity.
Experience of planning and executing
projects within a predefined
timescale.

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Experience of working in the field

of dementia care.
Experience of working in a
research setting.
Proven research aptitude and

Relevant research experience.

Personal Qualities

Commitment to a career in dementia

research.
Enthusiasm for working crossnationally and cross-institutionally.
Ability to work within an
internationally diverse team and to
attain with the requirements of the
Funder.

experience.
Familiarity with rehabilitation in
dementia care.
Ability to speak at least one of the
partner languages in addition to
English.
Ability to engage people who are
not confident with IT in using
digital media.

Patience and persistence together

with the ability to set and attain
goals.
Willingness to travel to attend
secondments, training and academic
events.
Decision Making
i)

Taken independently by the role holder

Day to day activities of own research and training.

ii)

Taken in collaboration with others

Major decisions requiring collaborative approach to include PhD supervisor or Project Manager
Antonio Garca.
iii)

Referred to the appropriate line manager (please name) by the role holder

Major decisions requiring input from Project Manager Antonio Garca or Principal Investigator
Prof Manuel Franco.
Additional Information
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Mr. Antonio Garca (investigacion3@intras.es) or
Professor Manuel Franco (mfm@intras.es). Please note that applications sent directly to these
email addresses will not be accepted.
Further information is available at http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/

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Appendix 1
IDES-INTRAS Foundation

INTRAS Foundation is a not for profit private institution formed in August 1994. Its principal aim
is to improve the quality of life of people with mental disorders, cognitive decline and related
disabilities. The sign of identity of the foundation is an inclusive approach to healthcare from a
recovery model making the best out of the use of information and communication technologies by
providing assistance and social services and promoting research, development and innovation in the
field of mental health.
Currently, INTRAS is composed of several centres in 9 different provinces in Spain where 159
professionals combine assistance, research and training.
In order to achieve its goals, INTRAS carries out the following activities:
Psycho-social rehabilitation and labour integration programmes, aimed at people at risk of social
exclusion, especially people with cognitive decline and mental illness.
Special needs educational programmes for young people
Research, technical development and innovation activities. Implementation of technological
progresses on mental health and other disabilities.
National, European and International Cooperation projects in the field of R&D, social assistance,
treatment, training and education, etc.
INTRAS promotes the development and testing of ICT solutions to be used in the
Neuropsychological field, in order to provide high quality socio- health assistance. Furthermore, it
has solid experience in projects management and has coordinated and been a member of several
partnerships in a large number of European and National R&D projects in dementia research and
brain sciences.
INTRAS has received the EFQM certificate (European Foundation for Quality Management) for
business excellence in its European Quality (bronze seal).
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca (Spanish: Universidad de Salamanca) is a Spanish higher education
institution, located in the town of Salamanca, north-west of Madrid, in the autonomous community
of Castile and Len. It was founded in 1094 being the oldest founded university in Spain and the
second oldest European university in continuous operations.
Salamanca draws undergraduate and PhD students from across Spain and the world; it is the topranked university in Spain based on the number of students coming from other regions. It is also
known for its Spanish courses for non-native speakers, which attract more than two thousand
foreign students each year.
Today the University of Salamanca is an important centre for the study of humanities and health
sciences. Scientific research is carried out in the university and research centres associated with it,
such as Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y Len (Institute of Neuroscience of Castile and
Len).

INTERDEM

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In 1999, a multi-professional group of researchers from Europe (UK, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands
and the Republic of Ireland) who had contributed to the international literature in early dementia,
gathered at the University of Hull, UK, co-funded by the European Commission (file no: SOC97
201452 05F03). The 1999 meeting included others from the UK, Spain, and The Netherlands who
had also received co-funded support for related research from the European Commission. Findings
of pan-European psychosocial research in early dementia were pooled and INTERDEM, a network
of research-practitioners / clinicians was thus established, with its first meeting hosted by INTRAS
in Zamora, Spain in 2000. The purpose of this clinical academic network was to promote research
on early recognition and psychosocial intervention in dementia, to build capacity and to develop a
better understanding of the experience of people with dementia and their families, throughout
Europe. The INTERDEM Academy is part of the PRIDE project (Promoting Independence in
Dementia), funded by the NIHR/ ESRC (Ref ES/L001802/1WP5). This project aims to identify
how social and lifestyle changes may help reduce the risk of developing dementia and disability.
PRIDEs workpackage WP5 is to develop an INTERDEM Academy for the career development and
capacity building of researchers in the area of psychosocial interventions and timely diagnosis in
people with dementia, and supports the pathway to senior academic posts in the field. The
INTERDEM Academy will enable fellowships for PhD students and postdoc researchers allowing
them to spend 3-6 months in another PRIDE/ INTERDEM research centre; a biannual
programme for students/researchers of (1)seminars to discuss their work with peers/academics,
(2) expert workshops/ masterclasses to develop ideas and methodology expertise, (3) academic
writing for papers and grants.
Zamora
Zamora is a city in Castilla y Len, Spain, the capital of the province of Zamora. It has 66.000
inhabitants, what gives it a perfect size to combine quality of life with cultural and entertainment
diversity. Only 40 minutes from Salamanca, two hours from Madrid and 1 hour from Valladolid and
surrounded by natural landscapes, the city is a hidden jewel in the Spanish scenario. It lies on a
rocky hill in the northwest, near the frontier with Portugal and crossed by the Duero River, which is
some 50 kilometres downstream as it reaches the Portuguese frontier. With its 24 characteristic
Romanesque style churches of the 12th and 13th centuries it has been called a "museum of
Romanesque art". Zamora is the city with the most Romanesque churches in all of Europe.
The best time for coming to Zamora is during the Easter celebrations, a Festival of International
Tourist Interest; or in summer, when visitors can walk around the city guided by the medieval
legends of the Romancero, which are staged in the most charming corners of the city. The province
of Zamora has interesting historic places set in countryside of great landscape and natural value,
which you can get to know through some of the best-known tours of this region. The Va de la Plata
route that links Seville with Oviedo has passed through this site since Roman times. On it, you will
discover the treasures preserved in Benavente, Valparaso, and La Hiniesta. The other great spine
route through this landscape is the Ribera del Duero. Among its scenery you will find many castles
as, in the 10th century, it was the frontier with the Muslim world. Toro, covered in vineyards, and
Arribes del Duero are other points of interest. Lovers of natural areas have the opportunity to go to
the Lago de Sanabria Natural Park, where they will find, among a lovely mountain landscape, the
largest glacial lake in Spain. Zamora is well known for the kindness and openness of its people and
the quality of its gastronomy. Today, praise for quality in the region goes far beyond wine. The
agriculture and food industry in Zamora is based on the preparation of products of great quality.
Amongst these are the Toro Wines and Zamorano Cheese, that have their own Designation of
Origin.

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To find out more about Zamora, use the following links:

Spain tourism portal: http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/ciudades-pueblos/otrosdestinos/zamora.html
Zamora Tourist information web page: http://www.turismoenzamora.es/index.php/en

Gonzalez-Palau, F., Franco, M., Bamidis, P., Losada, R., Parra, E., Papageorgiou, S. G., &
Vivas, A. B. (2014). The effects of a computer-based cognitive and physical training
program in a healthy and mildly cognitive impaired aging sample. Aging & Mental
Health, 18(7), 838-846. doi: Doi 10.1080/13607863.2014.899972

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