Are you inspired to conduct high-quality innovative research with a strong focus on mental and physical health? And do you aspire to work alongside world-renowned researchers who are absolute leaders in their field? In other words, do you want to become a leader in science? Join our research master Clinical and Psycho social Epidemiology!
And do you aspire to work alongside world-renowned researchers who are absolute leaders in their field? In other words, do you want to become a leader in science? Join our research master Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology!
Mental and physical health and the reciprocal relationship between these two form the basis of the programme. The central idea is that psychological, biological and social aspects all play a role in any physical or mental condition. The CPE programme trains students to solve current health issues by applying innovative research designs and statistical techniques while making use of state-of-the-art facilities in a truly multidisciplinary setting. There is a strong focus on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of physical and mental health conditions, taking clinical, public health, and psychosocial factors into consideration. Our students work with existing large databases or collect their own data among people with or without a chronic disease, across the whole age range.
There are four research departments involved within CPE: epidemiology, public health, health psychology and psychiatry. Top researchers from these four departments teach the courses, giving students the opportunity to fully acquaint themselves with different fields of research. In the second semester, students will get to choose in which department they would like to conduct their research for their master thesis project, becoming part of the department’s research group. Students will learn to design their own PhD project as part of the programme, which makes them well-qualified to attain a PhD position anywhere in the world. The best students will be offered the opportunity to continue with a PhD at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG).
We pride ourselves on the fact that there is a lot of personal attention for our students. The programme is built in a way that strongly encourages students to focus on their individual development as a researcher, in a unique and multidisciplinary setting. Because CPE is a small-scale programme, every student is known by their name and has ample opportunity for interactions and discussions with the teaching staff. Our student landscape is just one more truly unique asset to the programme. This fully equipped space is dedicated to the master students of the Graduate School of Medical Sciences, in which they can gather, discuss projects, and study. Since it is located just across the hall from the Research Masters Office, students can easily drop by the office to ask any question they have about their programme.
The programme also offers a track called Health Systems and Prevention. This track bridges the research focus of CPE with that of health systems, health policy and prevention. HSP Track students follow the basic CPE programme, but with a focus on health systems and prevention. This focus is mainly incorporated in the Master Thesis project, which for HSP students also includes an internship at a non-academic (Health) organization, the elective courses and the research meetings.
So, do you imagine yourself becoming part of our research community? Apply now!
Read more'Fascinating how the brain and mind work'
Dutch student Manon Schallig joined the research master Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology (CPE) after completing the bachelor Human Movement Sciences. 'The subjects I liked best – psychology and medicine – form the base of CPE.'
Also appealing to her: the fact that the programme is small-scale and top researchers share their knowledge on the reciprocal relationship between the psychological and physical health. ‘There are sixteen students of ten different nationalities in my year. The professors and researchers that teach us, encourage us to share ideas and to do background research on our own initiative. With success. Every student is motivated and involved.’
Top research
The master track CPE trains students to become top
researchers. Each one of them will explore the fields of Public
Health, Health Psychology, Epidemiology, and Psychiatry. Within
these four fields, Manon will have the choice to apply to divergent
research projects. ‘In January the Principal Investigators
will submit a list with projects to apply for. My aim is to
participate in the research programme of Interdisciplinary Centre
Psychopathology and Emotion regulation or the department of
Psychiatry, where Clinical Neuropsychology is a topic as
well.’
Psychotic disorders
‘It fascinates me how a small dissimilarity in
someone’s brain, can cause an emotional and psychological
“malfunction” of some kind,’ Manon explains.
‘Psychotic disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorders
are quite common. For healthy people it’s hard to imagine
what this mental disorder means, because it is
intangible.’
Functions of the brain
The twenty-three-year-old student is also enrolled
in a second master programme: Clinical Neuropsychology, which is
focussed on the associations between the brain and
neuropsychological functions like cognition, emotion and behaviour.
‘Dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease is a terrible
disease but unfortunately also common. My upcoming internship and
thesis will focus on the relationship between Alzheimer’s
dementia and disease insight.
To PhD or not to PhD
At the end of the master thesis project, Manon will
have written a PhD-proposal, which could give her access to a
PhD-position at any top institute. ‘I don’t know yet if
that’s my future, there are plenty of CPE alumni that choose
another path,’ she says. ‘Moreover, it’s somewhat
of a misconception that you are only admitted for CPE when you are
a straight A-student aiming to do a PhD. The commitment and
motivation you show in the admittance interview and during the
master track can outweigh your grades.’
Read more'I work on what matters to me'
At the time of this interview, Rena is busy packing her suitcase for Ethiopia. As part of her thesis in the master's programme Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology (CPE), she is going to collect data among midwifery students in order to evaluate their stance on disrespectful maternity care in the field. 'The fear of it being mistreated plays a huge role in the maternity mortality in Ethiopia.'
Western Europe has one of the best medical health care systems in the world when it comes to safe and respectful treatment by medical staff. Pregnant women commonly seek maternity care, with almost no exceptions. ‘In Ethiopia however,’ Rena explains, ‘only twenty to thirty percent of mothers-to-be visit a medical professional. Most women go into labour unsupervised, which causes huge risks for mother and child.’
Abuse
Is a slap on the thigh encouraging when a woman does not push
enough? Is shouting and yelling acceptable if a woman does not
collaborate? Is it okay for a nurse to give a 16-year-old a
reprimand for having an abortion? And what if it’s the second
time for the girl? ‘There are seven major categories of
disrespect and abuse that childbearing women encounter during
maternity care, thus is the conclusion of research by Bowser and
Hill performed in 2010. These categories are processed as scenarios
in my questionnaire. I hope to get 400 midwifery students to
participate. In particular, I am interested in assessing
differences between male and female respondents. The results can be
relevant for improving their education.’
Reproductive health
Rena Bakker isn’t new to Ethiopia. During her bachelor
studies in Psychology in Groningen, she ends up working there.
‘This internship sparked my enthusiasm for working in the
field of developmental aid.’ After finishing her
bachelor’s degree, Rena Bakker completes another internship
in the healthcare branch of international development cooperation.
Back in Groningen she enters the CPE-master’s programme,
where her mentor introduces Rena to Jelle Stekelenburg, professor
Obstetrics & Gynaecology with years of experience working in
third world countries. ‘CPE enabled me to get in touch with
these people. But you still have to be motivated to do a lot on
your own,’ she says. ‘Most of the preparations for my
research and corresponding travel and data collection aspects are
done by myself. In my opinion it is a good thing that students are
able to do hands-on research if they are motivated
enough.’
Groningen
How does she look back on her time in Groningen? ‘With all
their different educational backgrounds, everyone in the
master’s programme has their own speciality. We are all very
motivated and ambitious. That creates a good environment and an
easy way to make friends. Also, Groningen is an enjoyable city to
live in, I keep on coming back to it.’
Read more'Winning the prizes was great, but sharing science is the most important'
In his master's thesis, Matheus Silva Gurgel do Amaral
focusses on health literacy: the skill of handling health
information by individuals, so they can make conscious decisions
regarding their own health. 'It is very important to keep improving
access to health information and think about the most effective
ways to deliver it so people use this knowledge for their
well-being,' Matheus explains. 'Obviously, patient-provider
communication plays a big role in this. But new media like digital
applications can also contribute.'
Science is sharing
His presentations titled The role of health literacy and the
potential mediating function of depression in chronic kidney
disease outcomes and Improving communication with patients using a
digital tool got considerable attention from the international
visitors at the conference. 'It is important to share science,' the
student says. 'Topics that we research in Groningen can be of great
importance to other countries and vice-versa. Talking about it
leads to new perspectives and maybe even opportunities for further
research by like-minded researchers.'
Person-to-person
Before coming to Groningen, Matheus worked as a resident doctor in
a hospital in Brazil. His understanding of the communication that
takes place between a doctor and a patient is the perfect
background for his current research. 'I paid a lot of attention to
not talk to patients, but with them. It frustrates me when doctors
remain distant from the people coming in for medical care. Health
literacy is very patient oriented, and that fits me.'
Data
Working as a researcher, however, was completely new to Matheus. In
the first year of CPE, strong attention is given to statistics and
research methods. A good preparation for what follows in year two
of the programme. 'Most of my days are spent analysing large data
cohorts at the University Medical Centre. Statistics, data, writing
my thesis. It couldn't be more different from the work I used to
do,' he says, smiling. 'But I love to learn and it is fundamental
for a PhD track.'
Reflecting
Matheus did his research on the study opportunities abroad before
coming to Groningen. 'Dutch universities are known for being well
organized and highly qualified. I did most of my preparations on
line on this website called Nuffic Neso, which also deals with
cultural differences. From punctuality and buying your first
bicycle to the Dutch rain alert Buienradar – yes, every
detail has been covered.' There was only one thing he didn't expect
to find. 'Work, social life and me time are well balanced in the
Netherlands. In Brazil, I worked around 80 hours a week. When I
tell that to my Dutch friends and co workers, they look at me like
I'm crazy. I love how the Dutch claim their free time and allow
others to do so as well.'
Read more'Conduct research side by side leading experts'
As healthy ageing is high on the global agenda, interest sparks for the master programme Clinical & Psychosocial Epidemiology (CPE). Programme director prof. dr. Adelita Ranchor: 'Our students aim to improve mental and physical health from a multidisciplinary perspective.'
CPE offers a multidisciplinary approach to research the cause and effect between mental and physical health and behavioural changes. Its strength lies, according to prof. dr. Adelita Ranchor, in the high involvement of top researchers. ‘The programme has been established in 2007 by a dedicated group of researchers. We teach small classes so everyone can actively join in, we know every student by name and offer everyone the opportunity to delve into our researches at the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG) in the field of their interest. Throughout the programme students are supported by a scientific supervisor.’
Master thesis project
Where the first year solidifies the students’ basis in
psychology, medicine, epidemiology, research methods and
statistics, the second year focuses on the master thesis project.
Students can proceed within the UMCG departments of Public Health,
Health Psychology, Epidemiology, or Psychiatry. ‘To give an
example of a research project,’ the programme director says,
‘one of our students is examining how depression, anxiety and
fatigue influence neurocognitive symptoms after organ
transplantation.’ Students have the freedom to choose a
research project that suits their personal interest. ‘They
can use data from large cohort studies, such as Lifelines, or set
up their own data collection. On top of that, every student is
embedded within the research team of their supervisor with whom
there is a close collaboration.’
Research or business or government?
Most CPE students use the master thesis as the basis for a PhD
proposal, which in some cases is rewarded with a fully funded three
year PhD programme. But not all students choose to do so: ‘We
see international students return to their home countries to
implement their new knowledge in the local public health system.
Plus, there are good job perspectives in international business and
government as well,’ prof. dr. Adelita Ranchor explains.
‘To help students orientate, career perspective workshops are
organised to see the full scale of social impact and implications
of the master programme.’
Carel-Peter van Erpecum (23) has just presented his master thesis proposal and is looking forward to carrying out his research on behavioural health. 'The results can be used for improving health policy.'
Not much more than a century ago the most common causes of death were epidemics and infections. These days our own behaviours cause the most deaths. Smoking, moving too little, eating unhealthily. The latter forms the focus of Carel-Peter’s research. ‘Imagine what would happen if we could tackle the behaviour of overeating on unhealthy food. We would create a much brighter future for next generations.’
From Psychology to Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology
After a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, the student gave himself some time to figure out his next step. ‘I delved into the possibilities the CPE programme offered. What appealed to me, was the fact that it puts psychology and health in a broad context and combines social-psychological and medical research,’ he says. ‘I was a bit sceptic about it being a research master, as “researcher” sounds somewhat as a socially isolated or individualistic profession. But at the contrary. There is a lot of social interaction in the classes and research departments, with the professors and the other researchers.’
Gaining experience
The professors share a lot of knowledge from their actual (PhD) researches. The small classes were also a draw for Carel-Peter. ‘I was one of eight students in the first year of the master’s programme. Classes are highly personal and there is lots of interaction. Students complemented each other with all different bachelor’s degrees and international backgrounds.’
Master thesis
For his research proposal – ‘Does the presence of fast food stores in your living environment influences being overweight’ - Carel-Peter will measure anonymised health data from 160,000 Dutch persons and link this with the geographical locations of fast food stores. ‘Think of comparing the body mass index, hip and waist ratios to the proximity of fast food near the subjects’ residence.’
A great fit
Carel-Peter published an article on mindwise-groningen.nl about the master programme of CPE: ‘Unlike a lot of other studies, CPE does not have just one bachelor track that connects to its master’s programme. I just want other students to know about CPE, it would be a shame if they found out about the programme’s opportunities to late.’
The CPE master’s programme is a great fit for students with a bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Health, Psychology, Biology, Biomedical and Pharmaceutical sciences.
