TOUCH · Towards the next generatiOn of excellent yoUng doctoral researchers on mental health by developing an intersectoral & transdisciplinary approaCH

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 led by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) for the recruitment and training of 24 doctoral candidates under four major thematic areas in mental health & wellbeing research, while fulfilling all the principles of Open Science and maintaining the highest research quality standards. The doctoral programme also counts with the participation of 7 reference organisations as Implementing partners hosting doctoral fellows (research centres, research foundations and research organisations linked to prestigious hospitals from the area). The programme represents a steppingstone towards the implementation of a long-term collaborative agreement in the frame of the CORE partnership on Mental Health, one of the “Communities Oriented to Strategic Challenges”. The project will act as a key tool to articulate the neccesary capacities from the UAB sphere to carry out successful research projects in complex and strategic fields through a collaborative, multidisciplinary and innovative approach. TOUCH doctoral programme include 60+ options to carry out research projects with prestigious supervisors and the availability of world-class research infrastructures. An excellent training programme including practical hands-on-schools, training on research diversity and scientific & communication skills and a retreat for personal development among others, will provide a holistic approach to the training of fellows through a combination of research-oriented and demanding soft skills. In addition, the international & intersectoral aspects of the programme are boosted by the collaboration with several Associated partner organisations, including Universities, private companies, social enterprises & associations, research centres, clusters, foundations & federations for mental health.