New doctoral student: Albin Hoonk
Albin Hoonk is welcomed as a doctoral student at the Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge. Main supervisor is Linnea Hedin.
What will your thesis be about?
The main aim of this thesis is to evaluate a digital lifestyle intervention by examining its effects on health outcomes, lifestyle behaviors, and health-related quality of life compared with usual care. The thesis will also assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention as well as identify factors that influence the potential for large-scale implementation through interviews with patients and healthcare professionals.
Why are you interested in this research area?
I have long been interested in lifestyle behavior change. In previous roles, I have worked to support increased physical activity and improve performance among individuals, which I found both rewarding and intellectually stimulating. However, the reach of these efforts was often limited. This sparked my interest in digital interventions and lifestyle change, as they have the potential to reach a much broader population regardless of geographical location. Digital interventions can make health promotion, lifestyle modification, and preventive healthcare more accessible, thereby contributing to healthier individuals and communities.
What did you do before starting your doctoral studies at MedH?
Prior to being admitted as a doctoral student, I worked as a research assistant at Karolinska Institutet (KI) in the same research group where I am currently employed. During that time, I was involved in two international research projects, SUNRISE and GAC-PAQ, both of which focused on physical activity among children and adolescents. My academic background is in sport science and public health science. My professional experiences have been closely related to these fields, as well as to healthcare, which ultimately led me to KI and the IMPACT research group.
What are you looking forward to during your doctoral studies?
I look forward to contributing new knowledge to the project and its research area. I am also excited about the opportunity to meet and learn from new colleagues and collaborators, while taking responsibility for an important research project. I believe that pursuing a PhD will not only allow me to grow professionally as a researcher but also contribute significantly to my personal development.