We are recruiting a PhD candidate for a project on the desirability and feasibility of involving children in the valuation of health states. Health-state values are used in economic evaluations of new health technologies to calculate the health benefits (typically in terms of gains in health-related quality of life) of those interventions. Obtaining health state valuations for children poses several difficulties.  

The valuation of child health states (e.g., described by the EQ-5D-Y instrument) by adults has been a subject of ongoing discussion. Ideally these health state values provide an accurate valuation of the health state for a child. However, recent evidence indicates that adults’ valuation of health states for children may be influenced by many considerations, not all directly related to the health states under valuation. For example, adults may fear underestimating health problems when performing valuation tasks for a child. Adults also feel uncomfortable not knowing the health-state preferences of children themselves. Therefore, it has been suggested that children themselves should be involved in the valuation of child health states.

The belief that children should be involved in the valuation of child health states runs parallel to the increased interest of researchers and policymakers to involve stakeholders in decisions on health and healthcare in order to improve the quality, relevance, and outcomes of research and policies, empower stakeholders, and promote the transparency and legitimacy of these decisions.

Currently, insight into the desirability, feasibility, and needs of stakeholders (potentially) involved in and affected by the valuation of child health states, and the impact of their involvement on the valuation of child health states is currently lacking.

As PhD candidate, you will use qualitative and quantitative research methods to provide insight into these research gaps. The (research) skills you will develop during your PhD trajectory are of value for a future career in academia, government, or the health industry.

The PhD position is offered within the department of Health Economics at Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM). Your supervisors are Prof. dr. Werner Brouwer, Dr. Vivian Reckers-Droog, and Dr. Stefan Lipman.

A minimum of 75% of your time will be spent on the research project. In the remaining time you will take courses, e.g. courses part of the Erasmus Graduate School for Social Sciences and the Humanities, and you will teach courses offered within the bachelor and master programmes of Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (about 15% of your time).

You are expected to have a (research) master’s degree in health economics, healthcare policy or management, economics, or another relevant master’s degree. The position requires qualitative and quantitative research skills. Therefore, you need to have (or be willing to obtain) experience with qualitative and quantitative/statistical research software (e.g., Atlas.ti and Stata or R). Moreover, you have excellent Dutch and English communication and writing skills.

We offer a full-time position as PhD student at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). The PhD candidate will be based at the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM). We offer a 1.5-year position with the possibility of extension by 2.5 years based on performance. Starting date of this PhD appointment is as soon as possible and no later than January 1, 2023. The starting date will be determined together with the candidate.

Remuneration will be according to the PhD scales set by the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) and will range from € 2.541 per month in the first year to € 3.247 per month in the fourth year (gross amounts, in case of fulltime employment). Fulltime is considered to be 38 hours per week.

In addition, EUR pays an 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year payment of 8.3% and offers excellent secondary benefits, and a very generous leave scheme. Furthermore, EUR is affiliated with ABP for the pension provision, and we offer partially paid parental leave, fully paid extended birth leave for partners, a personal education budget, work-life balance coaches and more. Employees can also use EUR facilities, such as the Erasmus sports center and the University library.

Erasmus University Rotterdam aspires to be an equitable and inclusive community. We nurture an open culture, where everyone is supported to fulfill their full potential. We see inclusivity of talent as the basis of our successes, and the diversity of perspectives and people as a highly valued outcome. EUR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, functional impairment, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 3.700 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities.

Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM)

ESHPM is leading within the Netherlands with its teaching and research activities, focusing on economics, policy and management topics in healthcare. ESHPM offers a bachelor programme, five master programmes, a transition programme for lateral entrants and postgraduate education.
Since its foundation in 1982, ESHPM has closely linked research and education. Knowledge and experience from various scientific disciplines such as economics, law, socio-medical sciences, organizational studies and public administration are brought together and applied to healthcare. This multidisciplinary approach to education and research is unique.

ESHPM is housed in the Bayle (J) Building on EUR's Woudestein campus in Rotterdam. More than 1500 students study and 160 employees work at ESHPM. Internationalization is highly valued at ESHPM. The number of students, faculty and researchers from abroad has increased significantly over the past years and have enriched our programmes.