Location: METHODS Team, CRESS (UMR1153 – Université Paris Cité / INSERM), Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France
Starting date: Mid-September – early October 2025
Duration: 24 months
Salary: €2,600–3,100 net/month, depending on experience and qualifications
Context
The METHODS team of the Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS – UMR1153, Université Paris Cité / INSERM) is recruiting three postdoctoral fellows to work on the COLIVE-MH project, led by Dr Astrid Chevance (Principal Investigator) and Dr Karolin Krause (Co-PI) (https://cress-umr1153.fr/en/teams/methods-en).
The METHODS team is a multidisciplinary group of epidemiologists, statisticians, mathematicians, data scientists, and clinicians from various medical fields, focused on developing methodological innovations to improve evidence generation, personalized medicine, evidence synthesis, and research quality in health sciences. It also hosts the Cochrane France Center with world-leading expertise in evidence synthesis.
Project Overview
COLIVE-MH (Collaborative Living Evidence Platform for Common Metrics in Mental Health) is a two-year international initiative funded by the Wellcome Trust, designed to establish an up-to-date, open access evidence synthesis platform on the psychometric properties of four widely used mental health measures:
- PHQ-9 – Patient Health Questionnaire (adult depression)
- GAD-7 – Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (adult anxiety)
- WHODAS-12 – World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (adult functioning/disability)
- RCADS – Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (child and youth anxiety and depression)
The platform is designed to support the global harmonization of mental health measurement tools, with a strong emphasis on transparency, co-production, and equity.
Postdoctoral fellows will contribute to an end-to-end pipeline that includes:
- Co-production with people with lived experience and international partners to ensure relevance, inclusion, and global usability.
- Conduct of three parallel systematic reviews focused on the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and WHODAS, respectively, within the METHODS team (a fourth review focused on the RCADS will be conducted externally by project partners)
- Display of the results on a website interface
To support the Wellcome Trust Common metrics agenda, the evidence synthesis platform will ultimately include:
- Tailored and up-to-date evidence syntheses on the psychometric performance of each measure, accessible via interactive dashboards
- A repository of validated measure translations and other resources
- Evidence gap mapping
- A collaborative global hub for researchers interested or engaged in measure harmonization
Role and Responsibilities
Each postdoctoral fellow will take primary responsibility for leading one of the three living systematic reviews focused on the adult measures (PHQ-9, GAD-7, or WHODAS). They will work under the scientific guidance of the senior researcher leading their respective review workstream, as well as the Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator. While they are expected to show initiative and take leadership in the day-to-day conduct of the review, they will do so within the scientific direction set by the senior team. Postdoctoral fellows will have the opportunity to assume first authorship on the publication resulting from their review workstream and are expected to provide day-to-day direction to a research assistant contributing to their review, in coordination with the formal supervisory team. Tasks will include:
- coordinating with other review teams and with the developer of the evidence synthesis platform (Epistemonikos)
- preparing the review protocol and registration materials
- overseeing study screening and data extraction
- appraising psychometric results and methodological quality
- synthesizing findings and performing meta-analyses
- contributing to data visualization and knowledge translation activities
- drafting manuscripts and supporting the publication process
The postdoctoral fellows may also support data collection and analysis associated with the monitoring and evaluation of the evidence synthesis platform.
Required Skills and Qualifications
We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications and skills:
- PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) in psychometrics, clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, psychology, or a related field (experience in PROM development, outcome research, or related areas is an asset)
- strong understanding of psychometric measurement properties. Prior experience using the COSMIN framework for measure appraisal is a plus
- experience conducting systematic reviews; familiarity with living systematic reviews is considered an advantage
- fluency in English (written and spoken), with the ability to write and communicate scientific content clearly and comfortably
- ability to work effectively in a collaborative and international research environment
- proven capacity to deliver high-quality work to deadlines
- genuine interest in global mental health and measurement sciences
What we Offer
As part of this appointment, we will offer:
- a 24-month full-time position with the possibility of renewal
- monthly net salary between €2,600–3,100 net/month, depending on experience. In addition, the position includes a 50% reimbursement of public transport costs, access to the company health insurance scheme, and a monthly precariousness bonus.
- full integration into the METHODS team at the CRESS, a world-leading centre of epidemiological research located in the heart of Paris. The team includes professors, researchers, postdocs, and doctoral students
- opportunities for high-level mentorship from international experts in evidence synthesis and psychometrics within the COLIVE-MH network
- opportunities for academic development, scientific leadership, authorship, and international collaboration in psychometrics, living evidence synthesis, clinical epidemiology, and research integrity – both within the project and the METHODS team
- the opportunity to actively shape the harmonization agenda in mental health research, advancing international alignment on measurement and evidence use
The working language of the project will be English; no French language skills are required. However, proficiency in French is an asset for full participation in broader team activities within the METHODS team and the CRESS.
How to Apply
Your application should include:
- a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining your motivation and fit for the position. Please include concrete examples that demonstrate your relevant methodological skills and expertise, as well as your ability to lead or co-lead research projects, work independently within a scientific framework, and contribute to peer-reviewed outputs (maximum 2 pages)
- a CV (maximum 3 pages)
- a list of your publications
- the names and email addresses of two academic references
Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. Early applications are encouraged.
📧 Please send your application as a single PDF to: astrid.chevance@aphp.fr
