PhD students for Real-world evidence in Health Technology Assessment

Introduction

Health technology assessment (HTA) plays a critical role in ensuring that healthcare systems deliver value by informing decisions on the reimbursement and use of healthcare interventions. Traditionally, HTA has relied heavily on evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to understand treatment effects. However, real-world data is becoming increasingly important due to limited data on comparative effectiveness from randomised controlled trials at initial assessments and the desire to learn from the use and effects of technologies in every day clinical practice. To fully realize the value of real-world data, we urgently need to develop robust methods and governance frameworks that ensure the production of high-quality, reliable evidence for decision-making

Job description

We are looking for 2-3 PhD students interested in using real-world data to inform the pricing, reimbursement, and optimal use of healthcare technologies. This unique opportunity allows for cutting-edge research in an area of substantial and growing interest globally.

We offer hands on experience working with diverse real-world data sources including patient registries and electronic health records across Europe, and in applying causal estimation methods in healthcare. You will have the opportunity to work on a range of projects within your PhD including a collaborative initiative funded by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) involving other European universities, HTA bodies, regulators, and global pharmaceutical and medtech companies.

In addition to collaborative work, you will have the opportunity to pursue independent research aligned with your own interests. Your work will contribute to our collective understanding of when and how to use real-world data for HTA decision-making, and will prepare you for a successful and rewarding career in both the public and private sectors.

As a PhD student, you will:

• Design and conduct empirical studies using real-world data to support health technology assessment (HTA) and inform pricing and reimbursement decisions.
• Apply and refine causal inference methods for estimating treatment effects from observational data, such as patient registries and electronic health records.
• Collaborate with academic institutions, HTA agencies, regulators, and industry partners across Europe and beyond.
• Contribute to the development of international guidance on the appropriate use of real-world evidence (RWE) in HTA decision-making.
• Disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, and conference presentations.
• Engage in structured training and development, including advanced methods courses and interdisciplinary research activities.

Job requirements

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated candidate with an MSc degree in clinical epidemiology, (health) economics, econometrics, medical statistics, or a related field. You should have demonstrable skills in quantitative research methods and a strong interest in applying these to real-world healthcare challenges.

You should also have:

• Excellent communication skills in English (spoken and written)

• The ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage deadlines effectively

Employment conditions and benefits

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 1 September 2025 and you will be based at the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM). This position is for 1 fte. We offer a 1,5-year position which will be extended to 4 years based on performance. 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 entered into for the duration of the contract.

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

The Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM) is a leading institute in the Netherlands, specialising in healthcare policy and management across disciplines like economics, law, socio-medical sciences, organisation science, and public administration. Located in the Bayle Building at Erasmus University Rotterdam and closely associated with Erasmus Medical Centre, ESHPM educates about 1,600 students and employs around 200 faculty members, focusing on internationalisation and multidisciplinary research.

Facing the challenges of limited healthcare budgets and resources, ESHPM emphasises the prioritisation of cost-effective healthcare interventions and the integration of these considerations into clinical guidelines. This effort is supported by its acclaimed Health Technology Assessment (HTA) department and IMTA institute, which are recognised for their work in economic evaluations, preference research, and developing tools for assessing interventions from a societal perspective.

Strategically, ESHPM addresses three main themes: broadening HTA to include considerations of equity, efficiency, and environmental sustainability; enhancing the use of Real World Evidence (RWE), digital health, and AI to fill evidence gaps; and advancing personalised medicine that incorporates patient preferences and genetic testing. Through these initiatives, ESHPM is at the forefront of shaping healthcare policy and management, innovating for a holistic and sustainable future in healthcare.
 

Department

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) department within ESHPM, and its linked contract research institute iMTA, are distinguished by and internationally renowned for independent and excellent research in HTA, health economics and health outcomes research. The HTA department contributes to important and influential methodological innovations in these areas. It is dedicated to stimulating the use of cost-effectiveness information in healthcare decision making. The department is responsible for teaching HTA in several courses of the bachelor Health Policy and Management, the master programmes Health Economics Policy and Law (HEPL), and Health Economics (HE), and the European master programme Health Economics and Management (Eu-HEM).

Additional information

For this PhD position, the selected candidate will have the opportunity to join a committed team of international experts in HTA and real-world evidence including Dr. Seamus Kent, Prof. Dr. Maureen Rutten-van Molken, and Dr. Hedwig Blommestein. Should you require further details regarding this role, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Seamus Kent at kent@eshpm.eur.nl or on +31 10 754 78 44.

Applying

Please submit your application before the vacancy closing date (Friday 16th May). Your application should consist of your CV and a motivation letter. Additionally, the application form contains three questions related to the PhD topic that we ask you answer. Background information related to these questions is included in the application form.

The selection procedure consists of at least 2 rounds of interviews. First round interviews are expected to be held on the w/c 16 June 2025.

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.