The Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA) of Maastricht University’s School of Business and Economics is seeking to appoint one PhD-candidate on the project: Health, Lifestyle and Educational Success. The candidates should have a solid understanding of quantitative methods, and a strong background in quantitative social science (such as, economics, quantitative sociology, public health, epidemiology, or a related discipline). Affinity and intrinsic motivation for the subject matter is a pre.

The candidate will be part of a vibrant multidisciplinary research group at ROA. ROA is a leading research institute of the School of Business and Economics at Maastricht University. ROA intends to make a significant contribution to both academic and societal discussions on the effects of human capital on the performance of individuals, firms and societies as a whole.

The PhD candidate will be supervised by Prof. dr. Mark Levels (program director, ROA), Prof. dr. Tim Huijts (ROA), and Dr. Liesbeth van Welie (Sardes). The PhD candidate is expected to complete studies that will be published in leading peer-reviewed journals, as well as generate substantial societal impact.

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);
• A good command of Dutch;
• Outstanding organizational, verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

We offer a full-time employment contract as a PhD candidate. The first employment contract will be for a period of 1,5 year and will be extended for another 2,5 years after positive evaluation. Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels for PhD students starting with a salary of € 2.395,00 with a yearly growth to € 3.061,00 gross a month (based on a full-time appointment). Each year the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% of the yearly gross income.

You have to be willing to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings), you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs. Secondary employment conditions might apply such as a pension scheme, a corporate fitness plan, a bicycle scheme, at least 232 hours of yearly leave hours, and partially paid parental leave.

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.

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 20,000 students and 4,700 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.

The Research Centre for Education and the Labor Market (ROA)

The Research Centre for Education and the Labor Market (ROA) is a research institute of the Maastricht University School of Business and Economics, established in 1986. The overarching research theme of ROA is the acquisition and depreciation of human capital over the life course in relation to the skills demanded on the labor market.

ROA’s mission is to conduct high quality research that has a strong policy impact. Building on a strong position in academia, ROA aims to inform and inspire policymakers and academics, and thereby to contribute to both scientific research and public and organizations’ human resource development policies. ROA’s research program is organized in four themes:

• Education and Transition to Work
• Health, Skills, and Inequality
• Labor Market and Training
• Human Capital in the Region

The first two themes focus on education and skills as point of departure and study the drivers and outcomes at the individual, organizational and societal level. The last two programs study the developments in skill supply and demand on the labor market and the interactions between the two at the national and regional level.

In these fields ROA contributes to both the academic literature and the public debate on education and labor market issues. ROA’s research activities are being carried out and supported by a dedicated scientific and support staff, consisting of about 60 employees.