The Erasmus School of Health, Policy & Management (ESHPM) is leader and co-leader in a work package of the H2020 project ProgrammE in Costing, resource use measurement and outcome valuation for Use in multisectoral National and International health economic evaluAtions (PECUNIA). The PECUNIA project aims to develop standardised validated multi-sectoral and multi-national methods, tools and information for improved health economic evaluation. Mental health disease areas (depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) with high disease, societal and economic burdens will be selected as illustrative disease areas. ESHPM is the lead on the workpackage about measuring and valuing productivity costs (WP3) and co-lead on the workpackage about outcomes (WP5). The aims of the two workpackages are:

WP3 aims to develop internationally standardized methods and tools to include, identify, measure and value productivity losses in economic evaluations comparable across and within countries.

WP5 focusses on the development of methods and estimates for applied cross-national utility value sets allowing for increased comparability and transferability of outcomes in economic evaluations using the EQ-5D.

The post-doc will conduct part of the research in PECUNIA, such as the development of a pan-European value set for the EQ-5D. To this end, he/she will develop supra-national values sets by combining a selection of European value sets on the basis of cultural and/or linguistic considerations. The post-doc will further be involved in conducting a systematic review on instruments and the valuation of productivity loss of paid and unpaid work. He/she will also be involved in the communication of results; both to a scientific audience and the lay press, in the form of reports, scientific publications, communication materials for the PECUNIA website, and [inter]national presentations. The post-doc will be involved in acquisition of future projects. Teaching activities such as supervising students writing their master thesis on related topics is also part of this position.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive candidate with a PhD degree in the field of healthcare policy and management, (health)economics, econometrics, biomedical sciences, biostatistics, or similar, preferably with experience in HTA research, and special interest in mental health. The candidate should have demonstrable affinity with quantitative research, and preferably experience with analysis of data on quality of life, productivity costs and healthcare expenditures in statistical packages (e.g. Stata, SPSS, SAS, R). In addition, the candidate should possess strong communicative and writing skills. He/she should have strong organizational skills, both in working on multiple facets of the PECUNIA-project simultaneously and be able to carry out systematic reviews. The candidate should take initiative, be able to work independently, and function well in a team.  

We offer a position as post-doc/researcher at EUR, starting on January 1st, 2018. You will be appointed for a period of 36 months (until January 1st, 2021), starting with a temporary contract for 1 year followed by a second temporary contract to the end of the appointment term if you fulfil expectations. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU). Monthly salary will be according to post-doc scale 11 ranging from € 3.475 up to € 4.757, depending on experience. EUR offers a set end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, 8% holiday allowance and there are generous opportunities for additional education.

The expertise of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is concentrated in the fields of Business Administration, Economics, Medicine and Health Sciences, Law, Social Sciences, History, Culture and Communication, and Philosophy. In addition to the initial degree programmes and scientific research, the University offers specific postgraduate study programmes and courses. Erasmus University has around 25,000 students and some 2,700 staff members.

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 economic, policy and management issues in health care. The ESHPM offers a bachelor programme, two master programmes and post-academic educational programmes 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, organisational science and public administration are brought together and applied to the health care sector. This multidisciplinary approach to education and research is unique. 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 programmes and 150 people are employed at ESHPM. Internationalisation 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 programmes.

 The post doc position is offered within the section of Health Technology Assessment (HTA). This section is distinguished by independent and excellent research in HTA, health economics and health outcomes research. The HTA-section contributed to important methodological innovations for improved health economic evaluations, which resulted in influential methodology developments. Our section offers expertise in economic evaluations, cost analysis, and outcomes research and is dedicated to the use of cost-effectiveness information in healthcare decision making.