PhD position “Short and long-term cost-effectiveness of health interventions”

Do you want to contribute to equitable and affordable care for all by supporting healthcare decision makers in making decisions about the allocation of the healthcare budget?

Your function

In a world where healthcare budgets are limited, healthcare decision makers are faced with difficult decisions about how to spend the available resources as efficiently as possible. Economic evaluations can support such decisions by relating the investments needed for a health intervention with the health gains generated by that intervention.

At our research group, we now have a position available for a 4-year full-time PhD student in the field of economic evaluations. You will be involved in three European projects and will be tasked with conducting the cost-effectiveness analyses that are part of these projects. Two of these projects are on the treatment of Crohn’s disease and one of them on lifestyle improvement of adolescents and young adults in Kenia and Ghana. You are expected to assess the short-term cost-effectiveness of the interventions by performing an economic evaluation alongside the trials conducted in these projects. To extrapolate these short-term findings to a longer term follow-up period you will develop and analyze health-economic models.

This PhD position will be embedded in the research group Health Technology Assessment (HTA) at the Department of Health Sciences. We are involved in applied and methodological HTA studies in a wide variety of clinical areas (for example musculoskeletal health, mental health, and nutrition and lifestyle).

Your profile

  • MSc in Econometrics, Health Economics, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Sciences, or a closely related discipline;
  • good knowledge of biostatistics and statistical software such as R, Stata, and/or Python is an advantage;
  • demonstrable interest in and affinity with the field of cost-effectiveness research;
  • good command of written and spoken English;
  • excellent communication skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

  • a salary of € 2.901,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.707,00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for a full-time employment
  • an employment contract of initially 18 months. If there is sufficient perspective, this will be extended to a total of four years. Your dissertation at the end of the fourth year forms the end of your employment contract.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

  • a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • discount on (and occasionally exclusive access to) theater performances and courses at the Griffioen Cultural Center
  • a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge
  • space for personal development

About us

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility.  Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interested

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? ? Please apply before March 2nd, 2025 via the application button and upload:

1) a motivation letter stating your experience and interest in the project and the name of two contacts that may provide recommendations;

2) your curriculum vitae.

The first round of interviews will take place on March 10, 2025 and the second round on March 21, 2025.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Your function

In a world where healthcare budgets are limited, healthcare decision makers are faced with difficult decisions about how to spend the available resources as efficiently as possible. Economic evaluations can support such decisions by relating the investments needed for a health intervention with the health gains generated by that intervention.

At our research group, we now have a position available for a 4-year full-time PhD student in the field of economic evaluations. You will be involved in three European projects and will be tasked with conducting the cost-effectiveness analyses that are part of these projects. Two of these projects are on the treatment of Crohn’s disease and one of them on lifestyle improvement of adolescents and young adults in Kenia and Ghana. You are expected to assess the short-term cost-effectiveness of the interventions by performing an economic evaluation alongside the trials conducted in these projects. To extrapolate these short-term findings to a longer term follow-up period you will develop and analyze health-economic models.

This PhD position will be embedded in the research group Health Technology Assessment (HTA) at the Department of Health Sciences. We are involved in applied and methodological HTA studies in a wide variety of clinical areas (for example musculoskeletal health, mental health, and nutrition and lifestyle).

Your profile

  • MSc in Econometrics, Health Economics, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Sciences, or a closely related discipline;
  • good knowledge of biostatistics and statistical software such as R, Stata, and/or Python is an advantage;
  • demonstrable interest in and affinity with the field of cost-effectiveness research;
  • good command of written and spoken English;
  • excellent communication skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

  • a salary of € 2.901,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.707,00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for a full-time employment
  • an employment contract of initially 18 months. If there is sufficient perspective, this will be extended to a total of four years. Your dissertation at the end of the fourth year forms the end of your employment contract.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

  • a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • discount on (and occasionally exclusive access to) theater performances and courses at the Griffioen Cultural Center
  • a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge
  • space for personal development

About us

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility.  Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Questions about the vacancy?

Please contact

Prof. Dr. Judith E. Bosmans

Hoogleraar Methodologie van Doelmatigheidsonderzoek

Interested

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? ? Please apply before March 2nd, 2025 via the application button and upload:

1) a motivation letter stating your experience and interest in the project and the name of two contacts that may provide recommendations;

2) your curriculum vitae.

The first round of interviews will take place on March 10, 2025 and the second round on March 21, 2025.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Questions about the vacancy?

Please contact

Prof. Dr. Judith E. Bosmans

Hoogleraar Methodologie van Doelmatigheidsonderzoek

Application procedure

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