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The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers
20 Aug 2024

Job Information

Organisation/Company
Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)
Research Field
Economics
Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country
Netherlands
Application Deadline
Type of Contract
Permanent
Job Status
Not Applicable
Hours Per Week
40.0
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No

Offer Description

Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) is investing in three themes: Planetary Health, Sustainable Workforce, and Global Health. Through these initiatives, ESHPM is at the forefront of shaping healthcare policy and management, innovating for a sustainable future in healthcare.

With this PhD opportunity in Global Health, ESHPM is specifically expanding in the areas of behavioral field experiments and econometric work on health & nutrition behaviors in low and middle-income countries. A second PhD opportunity links to our comparative focus in international health care systems.

Job description
This PhD will contribute evidence on the intricate link between health or nutrition behaviors and health outcomes among vulnerable groups using field experimental and econometric approaches. The PhD student will be partly embedded in ongoing joint projects with researchers at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. South Africa is an interesting study country due to – on the one hand – persistent economic inequality, high rates of unemployment among vulnerable groups, as well as various social protection schemes, and – on the other hand – poor anthropometric status, nutritional deficiencies, as well as widespread infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB). The article-based PhD will primarily focus on South Africa using both primary and secondary data. One focus is on analyzing the effects of interventions including social grants and food support schemes on both health and nutrition behaviors as well as health outcomes.

Part of the project situates itself within the emerging field of behavioral subsidies/social protection and health outcomes in the context of vulnerable TB patients and their families. TB is a prime and often preventable cause of death in South Africa. An important fraction of TB patients suffers from poor nutritional/anthropometric status, struggles with medication adherence and lives in poverty. South Africa is also known for relatively generous social and disability grants. The project will explore the interactions of TB patients with the social protection system of South Africa. While first topics and projects have been identified, there is also plenty of room to co-develop further projects in the larger field of health, nutrition/anthropometrics and economic development including in neighboring countries.

Requirements

Specific Requirements

We are looking for a PhD researcher with the following profile and interests:

  • Master’s degree in economics and closely related quantitative fields with some expertise in development or health economics
  • Excellent applied econometric (e.g. impact evaluation) and related programming skills (e.g. STATA, R-Cran)
  • A basic understanding of field experiments and behavioral approaches
  • Experience with original data collection in field settings is a plus (e.g. surveys, field experiments). Specific field experience in South Africa is a further plus.
  • Excellent communications and English skills
  • Intellectual openness and strong soft skills for working within interdisciplinary and multicultural teams
  • A passion for tackling important health problems facing vulnerable groups
  • Willingness to spend time on the design of experiments and taking part in original data collection


The intention for this PhD recruit is to be based in the Netherlands with longer research stays in South Africa. There is an intention to develop and co-supervise this project jointly with collaborators at Stellenbosch University. There is also an intention to work with global health researchers at Erasmus School of Economics.

Additional Information

Benefits

ESHPM PhDs primarily work on their research project. There is also time for personal development (e.g. courses, conferences) and up to 15% of time may be allocated to teaching.

We offer an internationally oriented and varied job in our enthusiastic Global Health and Health Economics team with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The start date of this position is in the Academic Year 2024/2025 and will be based at the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM). This position is full-time. The contract is entered into for the duration of 18 months with the intention of extending to a total of four years. The salary ranges from a minimum of € 2.770 to a maximum of € 3.539 gross per month Scale PhD on a fulltime basis (38 hours) in accordance with the CAO-NU.

Everything else we offer you, you can find below!

Selection process

Please submit your application, consisting of a CV and motivation letter, before the vacancy closing date. Make sure to mention your own research interests in the field of health, nutrition and economic development in the motivation letter.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Persons of all gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, religions, ethnicities, ages, neurodiversities, functional impairments, citizenships, or any other aspect are welcome to apply and join the EUR community.

Please do not send emails and submit your application solely through the application system. Emails will not get answered. Only for urgent or important requests on the job, you should contact the prospective primary supervisor Dr. Matthias Rieger (rieger@eshpm.eur.nl). The interviews will take place in September/October.

Website for additional job details

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Country
Netherlands
City
Rotterdam
Postal Code
3062PA
Street
Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
Geofield

Contact

City
Rotterdam
Website
Street
Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
Postal Code
3062 PA

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