Eliciting patients’ preferences is becoming increasingly important for clinical and policy decision making and represents a relatively new discipline gaining interest in rigorous behavioral choice methodology (state-of-the-art statistics), digitalization (virtual reality for preference assessment) and globalization (cross-country comparison). The main tasks of the PhD candidate will be: (1) to design preference researches in healthcare using discrete choice experiments, (2) to incorporate digital tools to improve risk communication in preference research, (3) to analyse data from discrete choice experiments including cross-data set comparisons and (4) to disseminate and publish scientific papers in top journals in health economics, technology and choice modelling. Since this project is funded by internal resources, enough space for new ideas and projects will be offered depending on existing opportunities.

The candidate will be working under the supervision of Dr Roselinde Kessels (SBE – Assistant Professor of Statistics and Health Econometrics) and Dr Mickael Hiligsmann (FHML – Associate Professor in Health Economics & Health Technology Assessment). Both have ample experience in preference research and demonstrated capacity to provide and supervise good quality research in the field. Sufficient space for the PhD candidate to improve knowledge and skills and networking will be available inside and outside SBE and FHML. The PhD student will be in a perfect position to help bridging and revamping health economics and choice modelling between SBE and FHML. The PhD candidate will be involved in teaching activities for maximum one day per week.

• You have (or will have) a master’s degree in health economics, econom(etr)ics, health sciences, public health or a related discipline with a substantial component of research training or relevant research experience. (Students who will graduate in June/July/August 2021 are welcome to apply.)
• You are enthusiastic and have good analytical and modelling skills.
• You have a demonstrated interest for health economics and preference research.
• You are versatile (a generalist) and able to contribute to multidisciplinary research.
• You have excellent writing and speaking skills, and preferably have earlier published publications. (Dutch knowledge is not mandatory but could be an advantage.)
• You are able to work independently, to take initiatives and capable of managing deadlines.
• You have good communication skills to motivate a team to work towards the common success of a project.
• You are available for this position starting from August/September 1st, 2021. (Some flexibility in the starting date could be possible between July 1st and September 1st.)
• You are able to attend the job interviews which will be held in June.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Temporary employment for 4 years. 
Your salary would be € 2.395,- gross per month in the first year up to € 3.061,- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-candidate salary scale. An 8% holiday and an 8.3% year-end allowance is also provided.

A selection assessment is part of the application process.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 20,000 students and 4,700 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.
For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl.

Health Services Research

The mission of the Department of Health Services Research is to improve quality of life, quality and efficiency of chronic care and care of older people. We do this by studying and teaching innovations in a multidisciplinary way addressing the broad spectrum from prevention to palliative care. https://hsr.mumc.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ The department is part of the School Caphri (Care and Public Health Research Institute) of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences. https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/school-caphri-care-and-public-health-research-institute

The department of Data Analytics and Digitalisation (DAD) connects data science (statistics, econometrics, artificial intelligence, digital transformation) with business and economics research (health, policy design, information management, operations, micro- and macroeconomics). We are responsible for conducting top-level research in data science for business and economics ranging from fundamental theoretical studies to applied empirical projects. Department of Data Analytics and Digitalisation (DAD) - Research - Maastricht University The department is part of the School of Business and Economics. School of Business and Economics - Maastricht University