With populations aging rapidly, service providers and policy makers are increasingly aware of the importance of building and maintaining age-friendly communities. As people age they become frailer, which increases their needs for neighbourhood characteristics enabling them to age in place. Research could play an important role in understanding the meaning and enhancement of age-friendliness in different communities, and the identification of relationships between changes at the personal level and environmental conditions, and, in turn, their relationships to well-being among older migrants. Interventions using nudges play into cognitive biases by changing how choices are presented to individuals so that people’s cognitive biases lead them to act in their best interest, that of society’s, or both.
The aim of this PhD project is to understand why some communities are more age-friendly than others and what it takes to develop such communities for older migrants. The project employs a mixed-method strategy combining a quantitative and qualitative inquiry to develop and evaluate community studies in which a different set of conditions will be tested to assess age-friendliness for older immigrants.
As a PhD student you are part of a research team. You will be guided by Prof. dr. Anna Petra Nieboer within the department of Socio-Medical Sciences and Prof.dr. Semiha Denktas within the Rotterdam Center for Health Promotion. In addition, you will be involved in teaching activities within the bachelor Health Sciences and in the master Healthcare Management at the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management.

The successful applicant for this position is expected to have a master's degree in the social sciences (e.g., sociology, social psychology), health sciences, migration studies or research methods. The position requires advanced skills in theory construction and research methods. A good statistical background and experience with quantitative research is essential; an interest or experience with qualitative methods is an advantage. In addition, you should be proactive and supportive in research settings with older migrants. Applicants must have excellent speaking and writing skills in Dutch and English, and have a strong motivation for teaching and research within the particular field. Computer skills should include SPSS, SAS, R or similar statistical software.

We offer a position as PhD student at EUR. PhD students are appointed for a period of 4 years, starting with a temporary contract for 1.5 years followed by a second temporary contract for 2.5 years. Remuneration will be in accordance with the PhD scale set by the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU). Fulltime work will pay € 2.222.- per month gross in the first year, increasing up to € 2.840.-  in the fourth year. EUR offers a set end-of-year bonus of 8.3% and there are generous opportunities for additional education.

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 www.eur.nl

The Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is leading in the Netherlands with its educational and research activities targeted at policy and management issues in health care. The institute offers a bachelor program, two master programmes and post-academic educational programs and courses. At ESHPM, research and educational activities are closely intertwined. Knowledge and experiences of various scientific disciplines such as economics, law, social-medical sciences, organizational science and public administration are brought together and applied to the health care sector. This multidisciplinary approach to education and research is unique. The department of Socio-Medical Sciences within ESHPM addresses socio-medical themes such as patients’ experiences, quality of care, and the accessibility and use of (health) care services. Other topics addressed include the consequences of care provision and care reform for health and well-being of vulnerable groups (including vulnerable elderly, older migrants, youth with chronic conditions, people with an intellectual disability, the chronically ill, and low socioeconomic status groups).

ESHPM is located in the Bayle Building (J) at campus Woudestein of Erasmus University Rotterdam and has strong ties to Erasmus MC. Currently, approximately 950 students are engaged in one of our programs and 150 people are employed at ESHPM. Internationalization is highly valued at ESHPM. The number of students, teachers and researchers from abroad has risen significantly over the past years and have enriched our programs.

You will work both at ESHPM (the department of Socio-Medical Sciences) and at the Rotterdam Center for Health Promotion.