You will be appointed as junior researcher in the European WELLBASED project. Our task is to set up, perform and analyse the results from a controlled trial which aims to assess the effectiveness of a programme to decrease energy poverty.The evaluation study covers the activities across 6 pilot sites in Europe.

Energy poverty happens when a household finds it difficult or impossible to afford its basic energy needs. It mostly affects low-income households - people who are retired, unemployed or poorly paid, single parents, dependent on social benefits. Energy poverty impacts health and wellbeing both on short and long term. The WELLBASED project aims to develop, implement and evaluate an urban programme to reduce energy poverty. In six pilot sites across Europe (Valencia-Spain, Heerlen-Netherlands, Leeds-UK, Edirne-Turkey, Obuda -Hungary, and Jelgava-Latvia) the program will be implemented. We are responsible for the evaluation of the short and mid-term effects of the programme with regard to specific health conditions and wellbeing indicators. We will also evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the proposed programme in the different cities.

This project will allow you to gain experience in a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods, applied to addressing a highly relevant societal challenge among citizens across Europe, potentially resulting in significant health impact. The project enables you to work in an interdisciplinary research team that includes a comprehensive mix of relevant backgrounds, including clinical practice, public health, economics, psychology and sociology. You will have an active and independent role in developing and performing the evaluation study of all pilot sites. You will do this in collaboration with the other scientific and non-scientific partners involved in the project. In practice this means you will be responsible for organising the study, collecting the data (e.g. develop questionnaires to be used) and analysing the data. You will be writing and publishing scientific papers. Besides the WELLBASED project you will contribute to other ongoing projects within the team.

• You are a Msc graduate in Health Sciences, Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Psychology, or a related field.
• Key skills that the candidate will need and further develop are quantitative analysis, scientific communication (oral and written) and project management.
• Furthermore, the department highly supports candidates who want to further develop their skills in acquisition, multidisciplinary collaboration, leadership, goal-oriented working, creativity, initiative, engagement, vision, and visibility.
• We offer the opportunity for candidates to deepen their affinity with quantitative research and acquire further experience in advanced data analysis, and writing of scientific papers with the ambition to obtain a PhD degree.
• You will be working in a dynamic collaborative European project in a diverse and international team.

• There are two job applications open for the WELLBASED project (junior researcher and post-doc researcher). Only one position is available for 12 months (junior or post-doc), this position will be extended to a maximum of 4 years contingent on a satisfactory performance in the first year.
• The gross monthly salary amounts a maximum of € 4615,- (scale 10), depending on your level of education and relevant experience and based on a full-time working week of 36 hours. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Medical Centers (CAO UMC).

Erasmus MC

At the Department of Public Health, we are dedicated to improve population health at local, national, and international level through excellent research and education. Our research is characterised as highly multidisciplinary and is focused on the development and use of innovative methods. Collaboration with and direct impact on practice and policy are at the heart of our work.

Our team performs practice-based research projects in collaboration with professionals in health and social care. We aim to improve collaboration between professionals and citizens to improve health and well-being of vulnerable subgroups in the population. We study determinants of health and well-being and develop, implement and evaluate (preventive) interventions to provide timely support and appropriate care.