Enriched Stroke Rehabilitation through Music and Leisure Activities: Exploring recovery, brain biomarkers, and aspects for implementation

Research project description

A PhD position is available at the Stress and Health Research Group – Department of Basic, Developmental and Educational Psychology and the Department of Psychobiology and Methododology of Health Sciences from the Universitat Autònoma Barcelona in collaboration with Research group on Complex Health Diagnoses and Interventions from Occupation and Care – University School of Nursing and Occupational Therapy of Terrassa under the supervision of Jennifer Grau Sánchez, Sonia Lorente and Antoni Sanz. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate that will investigate Stroke Rehabilitation through Music and Leisure Activities.

Stroke survivors often face motor, sensory, perceptual, and cognitive deficits, requiring rehabilitation in the following months after the stroke and highlighting the need for innovative and cost-effective behavioral interventions. This project aims to investigate the effect of adding an enriched and stimulating environment with group recreational activities and musical training (enriched intervention) to standard hospital-based stroke rehabilitation. The project adopts a translational research approach, combining clinical questions related to patients’ recovery with the exploration of brain structural and functional biomarkers to elucidate individual differences in treatment responsiveness. Additionally, the project extends its scope to include essential considerations for future implementation in real clinical settings, addressing patients’ experiences, intervention feasibility, and cost-effectiveness. 

We propose a pragmatic clinical trial, testing and implementing an innovative enriched intervention in a real-world clinical setting for the first time in our context. This tailored and complex rehabilitation program addresses patients’ needs and recovery progression while combining neuroimaging, qualitative research, and cost-benefit analysis. The findings will advance personalized treatments with a more complex understanding of biological, sociopsychological, and economic dimensions supporting recovery. Beyond clinical outcomes, the project prioritizes patient-centered care by incorporating patient and caregiver voices and opinions into healthcare decisions. It also promotes equity by addressing social and gender inequalities and aligning with responsible research principles. Finally, the project will provide evidence supporting the sustainability of the healthcare system through economic evaluations, enhancing evidence-based practices and reducing long-term disability.

The successful candidate will be enrolled in the PhD Health and Sports Psychology doctoral program at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in the framework of the TOUCH project. TOUCH (“Towards the next generatiOn of excellent yoUng doctoral researchers on mental health by developing an intersectoral & transdisciplinary approaCH”) is a new excellent doctoral programme co-funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Actions of the European Commission and led by the UAB for the recruitment and training of 24 doctoral candidates in the field of mental health and wellbeing.

Academic background / Skills

The candidates must fulfil the following eligibility criteria from the EC: Mobility rule: candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately preceding the deadline for the programme call. Experience rule: researchers must be doctoral candidates at the date of recruitment, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the open calls. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible. Candidates must hold a degree that allows admission to the official doctoral programme at UAB.

Additional requirements for a stronger application are:

Candidates should hold a Master’s degree in a field relevant to the project, such as Psychology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, Neuroscience, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline. Strong academic performance and a demonstrated interest in neurorehabilitation and stroke recovery are essential.

The ideal candidate should have a background and interest in clinical research and data analysis, while familiarity with methodologies such as neuroimaging, clinical assessments, or qualitative research is highly desirable. Excellent organizational and communication skills are necessary, as well as the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and researchers. Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential, and prior experience with translational research or intervention-based studies will be considered a significant advantage.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the investigators for further information Jennifergrau@euit.fdsll.cat

Research group/s description

Stress and Health Research Group is dedicated to the study of psychological factors involved in the process of health and illness and their psychosocial context since 1995. The psychological factors studied are related to the processes of emotion and motivation, such as perception of control, optimism, coping strategies, emotional intelligence, passion and resilience. The common goal of all GIES studies is to discover how these psychological factors interact with biomedical factors to predict suffering, well-being, quality of life and recovery.

Research group on Complex Health Diagnoses and Interventions from Occupation and Care is dedicated to generating and transferring knowledge to enhance evidence-based clinical practice, influence and support public health and social policies, and contribute to a society that is more informed about health processes. From complex approach and critical perspective, the research group focuses on the development and validation of novel behavioural interventions for clinical populations.