We are recruiting a PhD candidate for a project on resilient health care financing, with a focus on care for the older population. Health systems in the EU are under pressure due to changes such as large-scale disease outbreaks, but also population ageing which have simultaneously increased the demand for health care while also putting a strain on resources. Your research will contribute to the pressing need in the EU to redesign health care financing systems to become more flexible and resilient to both short-term and long-term shocks. The project will use an economics perspective to find solutions for the increased demand for healthcare. You will apply state-of-the art econometric techniques to novel data linkages to analyze how: (1) healthcare financing can be made more resilient to shocks in health and health care demand, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. (2)  integration between different health care systems can contribute to more efficient care delivery and better patient outcomes.

Your research combines econometric analyses with deep insight in the policy context. This will enable you to draw conclusions that are both scientifically sound and policy relevant. Therefore, the PhD will provide you with skills that are valuable whether you aspire a future career in academia, government, or industry.

You will be part of the Health Economics research group at the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management. Within this group, 6 researchers are forming on the economics of long-term care group (link). The Health Economics research group is a dynamic, multidisciplinary team with 15 PhD candidates. The group also closely cooperates with other departments of the Erasmus University. Your supervisors will be Dr. Bram Wouterse and Dr. Pieter Bakx, who are not only experts in the economics of long-term care, but also have extensive experience as policy advisors. We support you with your research, but also use our network to provide you with opportunities to present your work in scientific articles and at conferences, to take courses, to arrange a research visit abroad, and to liaise with policymakers. Thus, this position enables you to quickly establish a broad network in health economics and policy.

Your PhD thesis will be part of the larger research project “Flexible Approaches to Support Health through Financing” funded by the EU. This will enable you to cooperate with researchers from universities, research institutes, and government organizations across EU countries. On top of conducting your own research and taking courses, you will teach in the education programs of Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (about 15% of your time).

You are expected to have a master’s degree in economics, health economics, econometrics, or another relevant master’s degree. The position requires advanced quantitative skills. Therefore, you need to have experience with quantitative research using a standard statistical software package such as Stata or R. Moreover, you have excellent English communication and writing skills. Since the datasets are in Dutch, basic reading ability in Dutch – or being willing to acquire this skill – is desirable.

We facilitate part-time remote work but also expect that you come to EUR on a regular basis. This helps to build close ties with the research group and the rest of the department.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

We offer a full-time position as PhD student at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). The PhD candidate will be based at the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM). We offer a 1.5-year position with the possibility of extension by 2.5 years based on performance.

The starting date will be determined together with the candidate.

Remuneration will be according to the PhD scales set by the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) and will range from € 2.541 per month in the first year to € 3.247 per month in the fourth year (gross amounts, in case of fulltime employment). Fulltime is considered to be 38 hours per week.

In addition, EUR pays an 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year payment of 8.3% and offers excellent secondary benefits, and a very generous leave scheme. We offer generous opportunities for additional education and attendance at scientific conferences. Furthermore, EUR is affiliated with ABP for the pension provision, and we offer partially paid parental leave, fully paid extended birth leave for partners, a personal education budget, work-life balance coaches and more. Employees can also use EUR facilities, such as the Erasmus sports center and the University library.

Erasmus University Rotterdam aspires to be an equitable and inclusive community. We nurture an open culture, where everyone is supported to fulfill their full potential. We see inclusivity of talent as the basis of our successes, and the diversity of perspectives and people as a highly valued outcome. EUR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, functional impairment, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 3.700 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM)

Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is leading in the Netherlands with its educational and research activities, focused on policy and management topics in health care. ESHPM provides a bachelor program, five master's programs, a pre-master program and postgraduate education

At ESHPM, research and education are closely intertwined. Knowledge and experience from various scientific disciplines such as economics, law, social-medical sciences, organization science and public administration are brought together and applied in health care. This multidisciplinary approach to teaching and research is unique.

Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) is housed in the Bayle (J) Building on the Woudestein campus of Erasmus University Rotterdam and has a strong connection with Erasmus MC. About 1600 students study and 200 employees work at ESHPM.