PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The potential of new, data-driven Artificial Intelligence-applications in healthcare has been widely recognized. Recently, various hospitals started to experiment with machine learning-applications that can analyze medical images, predict re-admissions to the intensive care unit, and provide decision-support in cancer diagnostics. Such applications promise significant health improvements, for instance through better and earlier predictions of future health risks or by enabling more personalized forms of care.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the Netherlands. A growing incidence causes increasing pressure on the healthcare budget. Recently innovative applications have become available in the area of mobile health (mHealth) that make use of Artificial Intelligence in order to facilitate early diagnosis of skin cancer. Such applications are expected to play an important role in skin cancer care in the near future. At this moment, however, more scientific evidence is necessary before such technology can be implemented within the Dutch healthcare system.

The PhD student will conduct a rigorous, interdisciplinary evaluation of a mobile app with integrated AI aimed at the early detection of skin cancer. Embedding such applications successfully in medical practice asks for more than only medical accuracy and technical feasibility: it also requires financial sustainability (cost-effectiveness) and perceived legitimacy (professional acceptability). The PhD position therefore requires a combination of health economic and sociological expertise. Familiarity with both Health Technology Assessment-methodology and qualitative (especially ethnographic) research methods is therefore a prerequisite.

The goal of the research is to investigate the cost-effectiveness and perceived legitimacy (acceptance) of the AI-app in regular skin cancer care and to investigate where the app can be best positioned in the care process.

This PhD position is a collaboration between ESHPM (sections Health Technology Assessment and Healthcare Governance) and Erasmus MC (department of dermatology), as part of a broader convergence between the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Erasmus MC and the Technical University of Delft. Supervision will be provided by the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) and the dermatology department of Erasmus MC. You will also collaborate with a second PhD student who will be located at the Erasmus MC.

Tasks consist of:

• Further developing and executing the research outline within the context of the convergence-initiative ‘Consultation Room 2030’ and in collaboration with the PhD student from the Erasmus MC
• Providing and following education within ESHPM with a maximum of 20% of the appointment
• Publishing scientific articles and a PhD thesis about the research
• Where possible: initiate and participate knowledge transfer to external parties
• Following additional education in research methods

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with a relevant master degree in the health sciences, health economy, sociology, science & technology studies (STS) or another relevant master degree. The position requires advanced quantitative and qualitative analytical expertise. You are experienced with both forms of research, preferably with cost-effectiveness analyses and ethnographic research. You possess excellent communication and writing skills in both Dutch and English. You are a creative thinker with an interdisciplinary mindset and feel at ease in combining different research designs and methods. Next to that, you are organized in your work and can keep deadlines.

We offer an appointment as PhD student for a period of 1.5 year, which will be extended with a second term of 2.5 years if the candidate performs well. Remuneration will be according to the PhD scales set by the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU), and will range from € 2.395 per month in the first year to € 3.061 per month in the fourth year (gross amounts, in case of fulltime employment). The EUR has attractive employment conditions, which include a holiday allowance of 8.0%, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% and up to 41 days paid time off. Substantial tax benefits apply to non-Dutch citizens, conditional on permission granted by the Dutch Tax Office. Applicants should have the right to work in the Netherlands for the duration of the contract.

Fulltime is considered to be 38 hours per week.

The starting date will be determined together with the candidate.

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

The Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), named after Rotterdam-born humanist and theologian Erasmus, is a research university with a strong international orientation and a pronounced social focus, both in its education and research activities. On the lively, modern campus, more than 28,000 students and scholars of more than 100 nationalities are constantly encouraged to develop their talents and meet their ambition. Our more than 2700 scientists and employees work together with all our students to solve challenges faced by global society, drawing their inspiration from the consistently dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. The academic education offered at our faculties is intensive, engaging and strongly focused on practical application. We increasingly perform our research in multidisciplinary teams, which are closely interwoven with international networks. In terms of research impact and the quality of its degree programmes, EUR can compete with the foremost universities in Europe, which is reflected in its consistent top-100 position in most major universities rankings. Erasmus University Rotterdam’s key values are daring, curiosity, social involvement, breaking new ground and striving for success. More information can be found on www.eur.nl.

Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM)

Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) is part of Erasmus University Rotterdam and is responsible for a bachelor and four master programs on policy and management in healthcare, which serve 1000 students. In addition, research is being done on three major research themes: ‘competition and regulation in healthcare’, ‘quality and efficiency in healthcare’ and ‘healthcare management’. ESHPM has about 175 employees.

Supervision for this PhD trajectory will be provided from the sections Health Technology Assessment and Healthcare Governance and from the skin cancer research group at the dermatology department of the Erasmus MC. The PhD student will be located at the section Health Technology Assessment of ESHPM. This department is distinguished by and internationally renowned for independent and excellent research in HTA, health economics and health outcomes research. The HTA department contributes to important and influential methodological innovations in these areas. It is dedicated to stimulating the use of cost-effectiveness information in healthcare decision making. In addition, the PhD student collaborates closely with the section Healthcare Governance. This section studies the new roles, position and identities of practitioners, patients and regulators, and how they interact and steer healthcare from a basis of reflective engagement with healthcare practices. Through projects as well as strategic partnerships this section engages with practitioners and regulators to understand governance ‘from within’.  The HCG department is specialized in ethnographic and discursive research methods.