All children deserve a promising start. Most children are doing fine. But some need extra support, because of problems during pregnancy, or because they grow up in disadvantaged circumstances, e.g. due to poverty or parental addiction or mental health problems. In this multidisciplinary project, we study how relevant datasets, among others of Statistics Netherlands, can be used to support these children and (expectant) parents. By ensuring more timely referral to services that meet their needs. And by tailoring municipal polities to the needs of vulnerable children and (expectant) parents. We collaborate with parents, practitioners and municipalities to ensure our research meets their priorities. This collaborative project includes partners from the Department of Public Health (Erasmus MC), the Departments of Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology (Erasmus MC), the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science, the City of Rotterdam, and a broad range of societal partners.

This vacancy is for a post-doctoral position at the Department of Public Health within the above project. Tasks include, among others, the development of a complex systems map of vulnerability in the first 1000 days of life based on a review of the scientific literature, and the quantification of risk factors associated with developmental outcomes and their long-run impacts. The post-doc will collaborate intensively with the post-docs for this project that are based at the Departments of Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology (Erasmus MC) and the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science.

• We are seeking an ambitious candidate with a PhD degree in Social Epidemiology, Lifecourse Epidemiology, Developmental Psychology, Child Studies/ Early Child Development Studies, (Forensic) Youth Care or a related field.
• Key skills and experience that the candidate will be using are: (1) strong familiarity with the scientific literature on the factors at the child, family, community, societal, intervention and policy level that influence child development in the first 1000 days, and the consequences of these risk and protective factors for outcomes in adulthood; (2) excellent skills using advanced quantitative data analysis techniques; (3) strong analytical skills and writing skills.
• We are looking for a well-organized candidate who enjoys working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Knowledge of the Dutch language is an advantage.

A challenging position within the largest University Medical Center (UMC) in the Netherlands with high ambitions in the field of healthcare, education and research.

• A temporary contract for the duration of the project (30 months), starting on December 1, 2021.
• A gross monthly salary of a maximum of € 4,615 (scale 10) for a full working week of 36 hours. In exceptional cases, and based on relevant work experience, scale 11 is possible.
• Excellent secondary conditions, such as a 13th month paid out in November and a personal travel budget.
• A pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 2/3 of the monthly contribution.
• Special benefits, such as a physiotherapist and a bicycle repair shop. And there is a sports club where you can work on your condition after work.

Erasmus MC

At the Department of Public Health, we are dedicated to improving population health at local, national, and international level through excellent research and education. Our research is characterized as highly multidisciplinary and focuses on the development and use of innovative methods. Collaboration with and direct impact on practice and policy are at the heart of our work.