We seek an independent researcher in the field of Modelling the impact of digital health innovations. A scientist who would like to cooperate within our future oriented platform ‘Strategic Intelligence for Digitalization of Societal Domains’ (SI4DS), which has five scholars at the core. Applicants are encouraged to link up with the SI4DS profile of:

Modelling / Futuring digital health innovations

The focus is on exploring the impact and optimal use of existing and upcoming digital health innovations. Current quantitative methods to assess the impact of innovations, such as, decision-analytic modelling, are primarily based on the synthesis of available empirical evidence. For many disruptive technologies – such as e-Health apps, 3D printing, Artificial Intelligence, or DNA sequencing – empirical evidence of their potential impact is limited or absent. Furthermore, for disruptive technologies extrapolation of previous results and insights may not be desirable. Such technologies likely result in unique new situations, transform the health system and necessitate new policies, communications strategies, infrastructure, analytical methods, and financing structures.

Computational models can still be employed, however, for futuring and forecasting, that is: to make predictions about the future by exploring a range of scenarios and identifying key factors and tipping points related to scenario impact. In this way, quantitative models allow exploration of the effectiveness of envisioned policies in plausible future scenarios, based on explicit assumptions, and including uncertainty in the predicted outcomes. Understanding possible futures allows policy makers to develop robust and resilient strategies to address these futures, even when it is unknown which future scenario will occur.

The research strategy builds upon health technology assessment, health economics, organizational/business modelling, expert elicitation, data visualization, combined with interactive model-based scenario design and analysis, for strategic decision making.

Responsibilities
The key job responsibilities include:

• Research: contribute to further developing the research lines. Key activities are co-acquisition and co-execution of research projects, producing high quality journal publications, and securing (inter)national scholarly visibility.
• Education: teaching at different levels; supervise BSc and MSc thesis projects.
• Valorisation: engage with stakeholders, such as policy makers, hospitals, municipalities, insurers, care professionals, patients, and citizens, to identify challenges, questions, and future scenarios related to digital health innovations.
• Organization: contribute to the SI4DS platform and to activities and committees within the TPS cluster and the broader Faculty.

You are a highly motivated and qualified academic who has an ambition to combine innovative teaching and ground-breaking research with intelligence for policymaking in healthcare. Furthermore, you are prepared to work with engineers, social scientists, humanities, societal partners, industry and policy makers. You will educate social/health science students and students in engineering programs.

Some other criteria that foster success:

• A relevant PhD degree.
• A track record in interdisciplinary research and teaching, with a keen interest in bringing bridging engineering science and social science in the context of health.
• In-depth knowledge, skills and experience of and in quantitative and qualitative methodologies within engineering and social sciences, such as simulation modelling, HTA/CTA, expert elicitation, scenario analysis, data visualization.
• High quality research as validated by your publication record in peer-reviewed journals. Evidence of communicating modelling results to a broad audience of non-experts, and examples of their use in actual decision making in healthcare.
• International research experience and experience as a post-doctoral researcher.
• Possession of a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) certificate, or are willing to acquire the latter, and have a real passion for, and the ambition to become a creative and effective teacher.
  Experience in acquiring grants will strengthen your application.
  Very good communication and presentation skills, and an excellent command of English, at least at C2 level.

Hiring diversity

We encourage a supportive and inclusive working culture. Our aim is that all job applicants are given equal opportunities. When we select candidates for employment, we take their aptitude and ability into account. To support the workforce diversity, we are open to offer flexible working conditions on an individual basis to support work-life balance, that may include contract of employment, working hours and location, or childcare arrangements.

We offer an attractive career opportunity. You will be appointed as an Assistant Professor (0,8-1,0 FTE) for 4 years, after which your position can become permanent, subject to a successful evaluation. By starting your career at UT, you will have the opportunity to develop as an internationally acknowledged and recognized academic.

An employment at the UT entitles you to:

• The starting salary ranges between € 3.746,- to € 5.826,- gross per month based on your experience;
• Generous social security package, including minimum of 29 holidays per year; a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary; a year-end bonus of 8.3%; a proven pension scheme and possibilities to save up for a sabbatical leave.
• Professional and personal improvement programs, including mentoring; the UT also provides support with preparing VENI/VIDI and ERC proposals.
• UT offers an attractive benefits package, including a reduced rate for health insurance and access to sports facilities at work.

The SI4DS Platform

As part of the SI4DS team you will shape the new platform through research and teaching on model-based impact assessment and futuring of digital innovations in health. Your work will support society to anticipate impacts of these innovations and optimize their implementation and use. This will require continuous interaction with societal partners. Assessing and futuring digital health innovations from a societal, organizational, and individual perspective will draw on quantitative but also qualitative research fields and skills

Organizational embedding

The Department of Technology, Policy and Society (TPS) at the University of Twente (UT) constitutes a multidisciplinary department in the BMS Faculty. Our five groups explore and assess how emerging technologies and innovation affect our societies, institutions and daily lives, and vice versa. We help to craft responsible and sustainable solutions. TPS board will support the research program of the SI4DS platform, daily coordination and guidance of your work is done in the HTSR group (Health Technology & Services Research, https://www.utwente.nl/en/bms/htsr/), one of the five TPS groups.