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OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This requisition is for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

The Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH) Department promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities, directed at the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and related risk factors, mental, neurological and substance use disorders and disabilities, and promotion of optimal nutrition and road safety, that are evidence-based and appropriate for the political and sociocultural context in which they are implemented. It raises political and public awareness and understanding of the burden of the most common noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental and neurological health and substance use disorders, related risk factors and conditions and leads multi-sector and multi-stakeholder strategic and collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening Member States' capacity to promote and protect health through public policies, programs, and services. This will reduce risks and disease burden and contribute to improving the physical, mental and social well-being of the population.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the Director of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health(NMH) and the direct supervision of the Unit Chief of Mental Health and Substance Use (NMH/MH), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following duties:

a)   Provide technical, strategic advice and programmatic direction for the implementation of the program of work for mental health and suicide prevention; advise in the preparation and implementation of mental health suicide prevention policies, plans, legislation and services, as well as, the creation and dissemination of effective programs to decrease the burden of mental health disorders and suicide; collaborate in the strengthening of national mental health and suicide prevention programs with emphasis of health services and the inclusion of mental health and suicide prevention as a component of primary health care;

b)   Advise, support and coordinate the sub-regional technical cooperation programs/activities related to the development and implementation of national mental health and suicide prevention programs and services leading to the restructuring of the mental health systems in the English-speaking Caribbean countries and territories;

c)    Contribute to the process of collecting and disseminating updated scientific and evidence-based technical information; advise and support the development and implementation of comprehensive national mental health information systems and suicide surveillance; create reporting tools to monitor mental health and suicide prevention programs;

d)   Advise and participate in the analysis of the regional situation on mental health and suicide prevention; consolidate and disseminate information related to situations and trends in mental health and suicide prevention;

e)   Participate in discussions on mental health with governments, donors and other partners, at national and international levels, including civil society, in particular mental health services users and families;

f)    Support, promote, and strengthen national or international networks directed to improve and implement mental health and suicide prevention plans, programs and projects; participate in the coordination of Collaborating Centers in the field of mental health and suicide prevention;

g)   Provide advice, support and promote technical cooperation among countries in the field of mental health and suicide prevention;

h)   Collaborate in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Organization’s Strategic Plan, emphasizing activities under the associated area of work strategic objectives; promote greater effectiveness of program activities and appropriate resources utilization; collect and consolidate regional information to respond to WHO’s requests for information;

i)     Mobilize international and national political, technical and financial resources and extra-budgetary funds in support of national and regional programs.

j)    Represent the Organization at national and regional technical meetings and in inter-agency consultations on areas of responsibility.

k)   Contribute to develop, define and establish the objectives, strategy, plan and budget for mental health and suicide prevention. Ensure an Organization-wide approach and strategies and objectives that are aligned with the Organization’s mission, vision, values, policies, strategies, business needs and priorities, in order to maximize results.

l)     Formulate and recommend policies, plans, strategies, and budgets, in support of the Governing Bodies’ mandates related to mental health and suicide prevention; report to Governing Bodies, through executive presentations and reports, on the status or results of the activities;

m)  Participate in the preparation of the Unit’s Biennial Work Plan (BWP), budget and technical evaluation reports;

n)   When called upon to directly supervise staff, establish clear work objectives, conduct timely and effective performance appraisals, provide coaching and feedback, and support staff development opportunities;

o)   Perform other related duties, as assigned.

About the role

This role will deliver high-quality research support within the Singer Lab, related to behavioural neuroscience. Research will look at how early life experiences impact the development of drug- and gambling-related addictions. 

The research is funded by the International Center for Responsible Gaming and is a collaboration with Prof Jeffrey Dalley (University of Cambridge, UK) and Dr Martin Zack (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada). The Singer laboratory is also part of a vibrant multidisciplinary ‘Sussex Neuroscience’ research community.

We are looking for someone who will provide dedicated research technical support to our team, conducting activities like: 

• developing and performing behavioural experiments related to models of addiction in rats
• organising datasets and performing statistical analyses

• managing laboratory equipment, consumables, and other supplies

About you 

Qualified candidates should ideally have an honours degree in psychology neuroscience (or related life sciences discipline). Excellent communication and organisational skills, the ability to work collaboratively, while complying with both University and Legislative requirements are essential. Previous experience in performing the above-mentioned research and management related activities would be advantageous.

The Faculty  

The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) is a School of King's College London and the largest academic community in Europe devoted to the study and prevention of mental illness and brain disease. The IoPPN broadens the remit of the former Institute of Psychiatry to consolidate King's neurosciences, with the addition of the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases and the MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology.  

 The complementary roles of the IoPPN are:  (i) to pioneer research into new and improved ways of understanding and treating mental illness and brain disease; (ii) to offer advanced research training for psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists and other scientific and paramedical workers.  The IoPPN's greatest strength is the interdisciplinary nature of both its research strategy and educational activities, providing unique opportunities for students and staff.  

 The IoPPN comprises three Academic Divisions in Neurosciences; Psychiatry; and Psychological & Systems Sciences. These encompass researchers with interests in addictions, biostatistics, child and adolescent psychiatry, basic and clinical neuroscience, forensic mental health sciences, health service and population research, neuroimaging, psychology, psychological medicine, old age psychiatry and psychosis studies. The Institute also hosts an NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health and an NIHR Dementia Unit, as well as the MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre.  

The IoPPN offers a range of Diploma, BSc, MSc, MPhil, and PhD courses in psychiatry, psychology and related basic and clinical neurosciences. 

The Department of SGDP  

The Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, based at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience in London, is the only centre of its kind in the world. It is a lively and interesting place to work with a friendly environment.  

The goal of the Centre is to investigate the effects of ‘nature’ (genetics) and ‘nurture’ (environment) as they interact and as people grow up. New and exciting collaborative and interdisciplinary research and training are the hallmarks of the Centre. Research (for instance using twin studies or molecular genetics) is central to our theme and, properly applied, can tell us as much about the environment as about genetics. The Centre gives a high priority to its PhD students who have typically been of very high quality and who will be the outstanding scientists and doctors of the future. The Centre also provides training at its annual Summer School and exceptional research training for clinicians due to the critical mass of interdisciplinary expertise gathered under one roof. The Centre’s research furthers mankind’s understanding of the root causes of common problems such as anxiety, depression, autism, disruptive behaviour or intellectual impairment. The Centre’s aim is to be able to trace pathways between genes and behaviours at all levels of analysis from cells to social systems. Ultimately the Centre’s unique contribution will be in discovering both new treatments and ways to prevent illnesses occurring in the first place.

About The Role

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to cover maternity leave within Inherit Lab, a group of researchers focussed on the genetically informed study of the intergenerational transmission of mental health problems. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/inherit-lab

In Inherit Lab we are interested in understanding mental health in families. We study large family databases to understand the role of genetic and environmental factors in the intergenerational continuity of mental health problems and associated traits. Our approach to research incorporates methodological techniques from the fields of quantitative genetics, causal inference, epidemiology and more. We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher with relevant experience in quantitative/behavioural genetics, epidemiology, statistics, or other quantitative mental health research.

The successful candidate will have three roles: research, leadership of the Family Footsteps public involvement and engagement project, and some teaching responsibilities.

• Research will be conducted under the supervision of Dr Tom McAdams. You will use data from the Norwegian Mother Father and Child Birth Cohort Study (>90k families followed from pregnancy through child development), the Twins Early Development Study (10k twin pairs followed from birth to adulthood). These datasets comprise extended families and include mental health data and DNA on parents and children. Research projects will focus on mental health in families (parent-child effects) and will involve one or more of the following:

o   Gene-environment interaction: Genetically mediated sensitivity to environmental stressors.

o   The impact of treatment (for ADHD in children/depression in parents) on the untreated family members.

o   Selection bias: identifying the biases associated with selective participation/attrition in cohort studies and how we can correct for them.

• Family Footsteps is a public involvement and engagement project focussed on creating dialogue between parents with an interest in mental health and mental health researchers. Consultation workshops have taken place over the last year. Next steps will be creating and running an online survey and engaging in dissemination of our findings in collaboration with charity partners. The successful candidate will lead on this. More information can be found here: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/family-footsteps 
• Teaching responsibilities will involve assisting Dr McAdams to run an MSc module. This will involve running several research methods practical sessions and providing some lectures.

This is a full-time post (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until October 2025. Part-time applicants will be considered (no less than 50% FTE). A contract extension beyond the period of maternity cover is possible.