The Department of Technology, Policy and Society (TPS), section Health Technology and Services Research (HTSR) at the University of Twente (UT) is seeking an assistant professor in the area of Health.

The Challenge

We are searching for a results-oriented new colleague who is able to expand our expertise in the following area of health at a cross roads between rural and urban structures and systems: the rurban space.

Current challenges on new ways of governing the emerging interrelatedness between rural and urban (“rurban”) areas, call for innovative and urgent solutions, as cities occupy up to 60 times as much space outside their limits as within. Rurban spaces create further demands on health services and health provision as well as on health care systems. Understanding the impact of these rurban areas on health and health care systems will be essential to support developing more effective solutions. We need to find out how “rurbanization” takes place, including the role of the governance and health care system, and the respective interplays!

Sustainable and responsible rurbanization requires innovative measures of collective intervention. Such measures should particularly address critical challenges such as those related to health and health care systems as well as the further emphasis on care provided in rurban centres and the demands for reorganization associated with this. Rurbanization presents challenges to health care systems that can only be handled by (further) improving the efficiency of its interventions, processes and organizations. This requires optimal use of existing resources as well as efficient development and implementation of new efficient innovative interventions (blended, technological). Furthermore, data need to be shared between healthcare organizations and access to each other’s data systems should be more straightforward, also for patients. Innovative (digital) technologies are increasingly used and the ensuing information needs to be linked to these data systems in order to optimally use all available information. With such an integrated health care system, high quality healthcare may be more easily delivered, also in rurban areas. However, several barriers hinder the development of such a system.

We particularly seek to develop cross-links with adjacent areas such as systems engineering, and the further study of decision-making at an individual, organizational, and societal level. Across time the goal will be to interact with researchers from various UT departments and contributing to develop a new field of research combining health services research and systemic change facilitating engagement in climate mitigation and adaptation efforts that can increase the health of the population as well as nature resilience and by doing this, contributing to Sustainable Rurban Innovations. An efficient health care organisation plays an important role to reach this goal.

• A PhD degree in biomedical or health sciences, data science or medical information systems, or business administration and interest in the innovative role of (digital) technology in organizing healthcare;
• A creative and entrepreneurial researcher with experience in qualitative and quantitative methods using large datasets, e.g. from technological devices and healthcare organisations, as well as interventionist approaches with societal engagement;
• Experience in design and/or research in interventions in health care organizations, ideally utilizing innovative technologies and different data systems;
• A strong publication and presentation record in peer-reviewed international journals, book chapters and outreach activities;
• Experience in teaching at an internationally accredited university;
• Excellent communication and networking skills and a proven talent to collaborate in interdisciplinary settings;
• Proficient in English (C2 level) and Dutch;
• In possession of a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), or willingness to acquire it.

We expect that you will move to the Netherlands, to the region where the university is located or to a region from which a daily commute is feasible.

Are you up for the challenge to improve the world with your research as well as teaching? Then apply now!

We offer a fulltime position for four years with prospects for a permanent position. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in which internationalization is an important part of the strategic agenda. The starting salary, depending on your experience, ranges between €3.746 to €5.826 gross per month (in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). In addition, the UT offers additional attractive employment conditions (8% holiday allowance, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, solid pension scheme, sabbatical leave, professional and personal development programs, etc.). As for the international applicants, they are likely to qualify for a low 30% tax regime.

The Section of Health Technology and Services Research (HTSR) at the University of Twente is part of the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS) and embedded in the Technology, Policy And Society Group (TPS) department and the Technical Medical Center (TechMed). At HTSR, we focus on assessing and optimizing the impact of new health technology on clinical and health outcomes, quality and safety of health care, delivery of health care services, and the associated health care costs. HTSR consists of a multidisciplinary team with expertise in health technology assessment/health economics, epidemiology, data science, patient preferences, simulation modelling and health psychology. Strong ties with large health care organizations are present to ensure successful collaborative research in the field of healthcare. Also the TPS department adds to the health care system focus of the HTSR by focusing on sustainability, philosophy and ethics, policy, and (higher) education.