PhD position in Healthcare Systems Modeling and Simulation

Join our innovative Health Technology and Services Research (HTSR) section at the Faculty of Behavioural Management and Social Sciences. We emphasize personal and professional development and encourage social activities. Contribute to future-proofing the healthcare system while maintaining accessibility and quality!

The Challenge

Our healthcare systems are facing growing and multifaceted challenges. The ever-increasing demand for care is outstripping capacity. At the same time, rapid technological advancements require constant adaption of intervention strategies, necessitating responsible use of our resources. These dual pressures highlight the need for innovative solutions to ease the burden on healthcare systems, optimize resource utilization, and enhance patient outcomes. Addressing these challenges requires the development and evaluation of strategies such as integrated care or personalised medicine that account for the complexity and dynamic nature of healthcare systems and their outcomes across various levels.

A highly motivated and skilled PhD candidate is needed to address crucial healthcare challenges using a systems approach, showcasing advanced simulation techniques. This position is ideal for someone with a strong foundation in healthcare systems and/or exceptional quantitative skills, who is driven to improve healthcare efficiency and sustainability.

In this research hybrid simulation model will be developed. This model should combine individual- and system-level elements. The main aim is to evaluate and optimize healthcare strategies through systems thinking. This could involve, for example, optimising cancer pathways through multidisciplinary care coordination.

The research will involve:

• Individual-Level Modeling: Using a bottom-up approach, patients will be simulated at the individual level, capturing unique responses to interventions and interactions with environmental and system resources.
• System-Level Modeling: At a higher level, parameters such as disease dynamics, population trends, and financial flows to provide a complete, system-wide perspective will be integrated.

This project requires partnering with healthcare organizations to make tangible impacts on healthcare delivery.

Looking for an ambitious, inquisitive researcher who meets the following criteria:

• Holds, or is about to complete, a master’s degree in fields such as Health Economics, Econometrics, Industrial Engineering, Applied Mathematics/Statistics, Systems Engineering, or Computer Science, or has equivalent experience.
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrates proficiency in programming languages such as R or Python and has strong skills in mathematical modeling and simulation.
• Familiar with the challenges and dynamics of healthcare systems and/or has knowledge of simulation techniques including Agent-Based Simulation, Discrete Event Simulation, and System Dynamics.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Thrives in an interdisciplinary environment, demonstrating strong teamwork and adaptability.
• Communication Skills: Communicates effectively, with an excellent command of English. Proficiency in Dutch is desirable but not required.

A 4-year PhD position (for at least 0.8 FTE) with a qualifier in the first year and the flexibility to work (partially) from home. We offer the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues, researchers, university staff, and external partners. Our offer includes excellent mentorship in a stimulating research environment, with great facilities to promote work-life balance.

• Gross monthly salary of € 2,901 in the first year, increasing each year up to € 3,707 in the fourth year.
• Excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme.
• 29 holidays per year in case of full-time employment.
• A training program as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision.
• Free access to sports facilities on campus.
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid).
• Salary and associated conditions in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU).

At HTSR (https://www.utwente.nl/en/bms/htsr/), multidisciplinary expertise is combined to support decisions on health innovation development, evaluation, optimization, and implementation. Research focuses on quantitative analyses supporting strategies to improve the efficiency and sustainability of healthcare systems. The HTSR section is part of the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS, https://www.utwente.nl/nl/bms/) and the Technical Medical Center (TechMed, https://www.utwente.nl/nl/techmed/), a leading innovation hub of the University of Twente!

Does this sound appealing? Please apply before May 31, 2025. This position will be filled as soon as we find a suitable candidate, so we encourage early applications.

Your application must include:

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), explaining your specific interest, qualifications, and motivations to apply for this position.
• A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained, and, if applicable, an overview of publications, as well as up to three references.
• Applicants with a non-Dutch qualification and who have not had secondary and tertiary education in English can only be admitted with an IELTS-test showing a total band score of at least 6.5, internet. TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT) showing a score of at least 90, or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE).

Additional information can be acquired via email to Dr.-Ing. Shiva Faeghinezhad (s.faeghinezhad@utwente.nl).