Health and vitality are increasingly important prerequisites for enabling, improving and sustaining people’s societal participation. Differences in health and lifestyle explain part of the substantial, persistent and structural socioeconomic differences in educational achievement. Various social science theories – developed in the economic sciences, health sciences and sociology – predict that interventions that aim to reduce the influence of socioeconomic background and health on educational achievement are more successful if they take place earlier in life. Innovative research explaining the complex relationships between health, socioeconomic status, and achievement in education can substantially aid policy efforts to offer equal opportunities for equal talent and reduce unhealthy and risk-taking behaviour. However, the study into these relationships is relatively new and fragmented across various scientific disciplines, and the empirical evidence is still limited. This PhD research will make use of administrative data, survey data and randomized field experiments in schools to increase our understanding of the role played by schools in shaping the relation between social background, health, lifestyles and educational success of children in the Netherlands.

Candidates will be judged on the basis of the requirements outlined below. To be considered, candidates should make sure that their application letter demonstrates how they meet these requirements:

• Successful completion of a Research Master degree (or two-year equivalent) in Sociology, Economics, and/ or Epidemiology, or other relevant fields;
• Advanced skills in research design and relevant quantitative analysis, as demonstrated in education and work so far;
• Strong analytical capacity;
• Affinity with work in an interdisciplinary and international environment;
• Excellent proficiency in English (working language);
• Preferably a good command of Dutch;
• Outstanding organizational, verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

Salary scale: PhD (Dutch University Salary Scales)

We offer a 4 year full-time appointment as PhD student. The first year will be a probation period, after a positive assessment the position will be extended with another 3 years.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 18,000 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.