PhD Data Driven Research on the Centralization of Oncology Care

Introduction

Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) together with the Cancer Institute of Erasmus Medical Centre is dedicated to advancing research on healthcare systems and policy. We are offering an exciting PhD opportunity focusing on the centralization of oncology care (specifically secondary metastatic colorectal cancer) and its potential effects on accessibility, treatment quality, and patient outcomes in the Netherlands and beyond.

This data-driven project will use real-world data to examine how centralization affects equity in access, treatment patterns, and the integration of complex technologies. The successful candidate will have strong data-driven methodological learning opportunities with high social impact on cancer care organisation. They will work within an interdisciplinary team, applying advanced modeling techniques and analyzing large-scale datasets to contribute to healthcare policy decisions.

The PhD project will be supervised by Dr. Nora Franzen and Professor Maarten J. IJzerman in collaboration with Professor Henk Verheul (medical oncology) and Professor Kees Verhoef (oncologic surgery). Join our team if you are passionate about improving cancer care by investigating healthcare systems, addressing inequalities, and contributing to impactful, data-driven research with a global perspective.

Job description

This PhD project will explore the impact of centralizing specialized Colorectal Cancer (CRC) care and its consequences on equitable access to high-quality cancer treatment. The research will use data-driven methodologies to analyze how the organization of oncology care can be improved. The primary focus will be on the Netherlands, with comparisons to other countries and regions, including Europe and Australia. Special attention will be given to the surgical and medical management of patients with low volume CRC (e.g. colon) or those with secondary metastatic sites following primary CRC treatment (e.g. liver and lung metastases). This (low-volume) complex care requires further concentration in specialized clinics with access innovative treatments and technologies, such as (hybrid) surgical equipment, cell therapies, AI-driven methods, and advanced genomics.

The project will focus on the following key questions:

• Analysing Centralization and Accessibility: Using population data from real world data sources such as cancer registries and data from the central bureau of statistics, the PhD student will analyze how centralization of oncology care influences accessibility, focusing on high complex interventional procedures for CRC patients. This includes assessing levels of centralization, patient travel times, regional variations, and treatment patterns.

• Simulation Modelling: The candidate will develop and apply simulation models to evaluate the effects of centralizing care on measures such as healthcare capacity, patient outcomes, travel distances, and access to innovative and complex treatments.
• Patient Preferences: The PhD student will investigate how patients (e.g. using discrete choice experiments or similar methods) perceive the centralization of oncology care, considering their preferences for access to specialized treatments and the impact of technological advancements.

The PhD student will utilize real-world data (RWD) to analyze patterns of care delivery, outcomes, and system-level inefficiencies. The results will inform policy decisions aimed at improving the quality, equity, and efficiency of cancer care, with a focus on ensuring sustainability and maximizing the benefits of new technologies.

Job requirements

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

• A MSc degree in a relevant field such as data science, econometrics, health economics, operations research, or a related discipline. A strong background in quantitative research, with proficiency in R or Python for data analysis and modeling.
• Familiarity with analyzing large-scale healthcare datasets and real-world data.
• Experience in developing and applying simulation models, including system dynamics, agent-based modeling, and discrete choice experiments.
• A passion for improving healthcare systems, particularly in oncology, and an understanding of patient preferences in the context of cancer care and healthcare systems research.
• An interest in the use of complex medical technologies (e.g., precision medicine, genomics, robotics, cell therapies, AI-driven methods) to advance specialised care. 
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken. Dutch is a plus but not a requirement.

Employment conditions and benefits

This PhD position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge, data-driven research in oncology care. The successful candidate will be employed by Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM).  

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

The start date of this position is September or October 2025 and you will be based at Campus Woudestein in Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM). This position is for 1 fte. The salary ranges from a minimum of € 2.901 to a maximum of € 3.707 gross per month Scale PhD on a fulltime basis (38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU). The contract is initially for 1.5 years, with the possibility of extending to a 4-year term based on performance.

Everything else we offer you, you can find below!

-        Everything you need for a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre!

-        Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME or QuEUR.

-        Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library.

-        Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.

-        Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners, and our campus features a daycare (daycare not paid for by EUR).

-        Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the 30%-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Employer

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4.100 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Faculty / Institute / Central service

Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM)

ESHPM is leading within the Netherlands with its teaching and research activities, focusing on economics, policy and management topics in healthcare. ESHPM offers a bachelor programme, five master programmes, a transition programme for lateral entrants and postgraduate education.

Since its foundation in 1982, ESHPM has closely linked research and education. Knowledge and experience from various scientific disciplines such as economics, law, socio-medical sciences, organizational studies and public administration are brought together and applied to healthcare. This multidisciplinary approach to education and research is unique. 

ESHPM is housed in the Bayle (J) Building on EUR's Woudestein campus in Rotterdam. More than 1500 students study and nearly 300 people work at ESHPM.

ESHPM is affiliated with Erasmus Medical Centre, and the current position builds on a strong collaboration with clinical researchers at the Erasmus Medical Centre Cancer Institute.

Group

This PhD position is embedded in the Health Services Management and Organisation (HSMO) group, which conducts education and research on management and innovation in healthcare. Given the interdisciplinary nature of this PhD topic, you will closely collaborate with colleagues from the Health Systems and Insurance (HSI) group and the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) group.

Additional information

Join our team to contribute to impactful, data-driven research with a global perspective, and help improve healthcare systems and address inequalities. Under the supervision of Professor Maarten J. IJzerman and co-promoter Dr. Nora Franzen, this PhD trajectory offers a unique opportunity to learn and make a meaningful difference.

Please submit your application, consisting of a motivation letter and CV, before 01-07-2025.

Applying

Please submit your application, consisting of a motivation letter and CV, before the vacancy closing date.

The selection process will consist of one or two interviews. These interviews are expected to take place in July and August, with the hope that the selected candidate can start in September/October 2025.  

You can find more information about the EUR on our website www.eur.nl. For more information about this vacancy, please contact Nora Franzen via franzen@eshpm.eur.nl , or Maarten IJzerman via ijzerman@eshpm.eur.nl 

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.