The challenge is to transform healthcare through early detection and treatment of diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes severely impact the quality of life of individuals affected by these conditions, and lead to invasive treatments and high costs if not treated early. There is however no nationwide screening program to detect these conditions and start treatment early. Therefore, the Check@Home consortium will develop a roadmap and infrastructure for an accessible and (cost-)effective national program for the early detection and treatment of these diseases. During the Check@Home study, 160,000 Dutch citizens will be invited to apply a home-based screening test. Upon detection of early signs of chronic diseases, lifestyle intervention and medication may be initiated to prevent further progression. Through this research, you will craft the healthcare of the future and impact the lives of thousands!

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is essential to enable efficient and sustainable healthcare. We are seeking a PhD candidate who wants focus on HTA, that is, work at the intersection of healthcare, technology and society. This requires a deep understanding of both healthcare and technology, and solid quantitative skills. Using the evidence collected during the Check@Home study and simulation modelling, the successful applicant will be responsible for assessing the health economic impact of the Check@Home multi-disease screening program, to support its nationwide implementation. Beyond this unique project, this exciting position offers the opportunity to enhance existing simulation approaches in HTA!

We look for a highly motivated researcher who is driven by curiosity and:

• Has affinity with statistical or mathematical modelling, and (some) programming experience, preferably in R;
• Has, or will shortly acquire, a quantitative master degree (for example, in Health Economics, Econometrics, Industrial Engineering, Applied Mathematics/Statistics, or Computer Sciences)
• Has a good team spirit and likes to work in an interdisciplinary environment;
• Is able to perform independent research and willing to develop writing and publication skills;
• Possesses good communication skills and an excellent command of English. Dutch proficiency would be desirable.

We encourage high responsibility and independence, while collaborating with colleagues, researchers, other university staff and partners. We follow the terms of employment by the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Universities (CAO). Our offer contains: a 4-year PhD position with a qualifier in the first year; excellent mentorship in a stimulating research environment with excellent facilities to promote a good work-life balance; and a personal development program within the Twente Graduate School. It also includes:

• Gross monthly salary of € 2.770 in the first year, increasing each year up to € 3.539 in the fourth year;
• Excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme;
• 29 holidays per year in case of full-time employment;
• A training program as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision;
• Free access to sports facilities on campus;
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid);
• A full status as an employee at the UT, including pension, healthcare benefits and good secondary conditions are part of our collective labour agreement CAO-NU for Dutch universities.

At HTSR ( https://www.utwente.nl/en/bms/htsr/), multidisciplinary expertise is combined to support decisions on health innovation development, evaluation, optimization, and implementation. Research focuses on quantitative analyses supporting strategies to improve the efficiency and sustainability of healthcare systems. The HTSR section is part of the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS, https://www.utwente.nl/nl/bms/) and the Technical Medical Center (TechMed, https://www.utwente.nl/nl/techmed/), a leading innovation hub of the University of Twente.