PhD candidate Outcome-Based Healthcare

As a PhD candidate in Outcome-Based Healthcare, you will help transform how healthcare outcomes are measured, interpreted, and applied to enhance decision-making, from regulatory approval to daily clinical practice. Your role will focus on two key areas essential to improving the use of outcomes in healthcare.

Function content:

You will be responsible for the following:

• Coordinating an international study within the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group (QLG), collaborating with partners from 12 countries.
• Investigating how patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) used in oncology trials can be adapted to meet regulatory and reimbursement standards.
• Leading the day-to-day coordination of an international multicentre study and analyzing its results using advanced psychometric methods such as Item Response Theory.
• Providing recommendations to ensure EORTC’s quality-of-life measures optimally serve regulators, payers, and clinicians for labeling, reimbursement, and outcome monitoring.

In parallel, you will also:

• Explore the integration of outcome data into routine care, working closely with clinicians at Erasmus MC and national stakeholders.
• Decision frameworks that help clinicians and patients use outcome information in shared decision making.

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate eager to become an expert in outcome-based healthcare and health-related quality of life research. You bring:

• Master’s degree in a health-related field (e.g. Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Health Psychology, Health Economics)
• Strong interest in healthcare applications.Affinity with quantitative methods and motivation to develop skills in advanced data analysis and psychometrics.
• Strong English communication skills and enthusiasm for multidisciplinary collaboration.
• An outward-looking mindset, keen to engage with patients, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers.
• Motivation to grow into an independent researcher, publishing and presenting internationally.

At Erasmus MC, we work toward a healthy population and excellent healthcare through research and education. We push boundaries in science and care, driven by dedication and innovation. You will be part of the Healthcare Quality & Sustainability (HQS) programme within the Department of Public Health, which focuses on improving healthcare decisions for better outcomes today and sustainable systems tomorrow.

This PhD project is embedded in the EORTC Quality of Life Group, an international consortium developing widely used health-related quality of life measures.