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PhD Data-Driven Insights into Healthcare Quality and Affordability

PhD

PhD Data-Driven Insights into Healthcare Quality and Affordability

The Faculty of Economics and Business offers an inspiring study and working environment for students and employees. International accreditation enables the Faculty to assess performance against the highest international standards. It also creates an exciting environment of continuous improvement. FEB's programmes, academic staff and research do well on various excellence ranking lists.

FEBRI, the graduate school and research institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business has available two PhD positions within the project Data-Driven Insights into Healthcare Quality and Affordability.

Faculty of Economics and Business

Apply no later than: 2 March 2026 23:59 Dutch local time

2 FTE

€3.059 - €3.881

PhD Data-Driven Insights into Healthcare Quality and Affordability

https://werkenbij.rug.nl/vacature/phd-data-driven-insights-into-healthcare-quality-and-affordability-1732/?langlang=en

What are you going to do?

The two PhD projects are part of a larger project financed by the Stichting Kwaliteitsgelden Specialisten (SKMS, Foundation for Quality Funds for Medical Specialists) with Zorgverzekeraars Nederland (ZN: Health Insurers Netherlands) and Federation of Specialists (FMS) as commissioning organisations.

Healthcare systems worldwide face the pressing challenge of keeping care both high in quality and financially sustainable. In The Netherlands, national agreements have initiated major transitions in healthcare delivery, aimed at improving quality while controlling costs.

The two PhD projects will contribute to building a scientific foundation for how healthcare claims data can generate meaningful insights into the quality of care. By linking claims data with existing clinical quality registries, the research will investigate how data can be transformed into valuable information for transparency, monitoring, and continuous quality improvement. In addition, the PhD candidates will collect both quantitative and qualitative data within hospitals, providing deeper understanding of quality differences and identifying opportunities to improve care delivery. The projects aim not only to generate practical insights, but also to contribute to academic debates on healthcare quality measurement, organization of care, and affordability.

Faculty of Economics and Business

Closing date: 2 March 2026

€3.059 - €3.881

Who are you?

The ideal candidates are highly motivated and committed to advancing academic research.

You have:

• Strong analytical and methodological skills, and a keen interest in developing theory-driven insights into healthcare quality, organisation of care and health policy.
• MSc or Research Master in Economics & Business, Medicine, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Data Science, or a related field.
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken); Proficiency in Dutch is required given the hospital-based research context (at least B2 level and willingness to advance to level C1 in the first year)
• Experience with, or strong interest in, mixed-methods research, including the integration of advanced quantitative analyses with qualitative insights to inform theory and practice. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team and to collaborate with and communicate research findings to a diverse group of healthcare stakeholders, including hospitals, health insurers, and professional associations.

What can you expect from us?

• In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch universities, we offer a salary of at least € 3.059 up to a maximum of € 3.881 (promovendus) gross per month for a full-time employment contract.
• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.
• The full-time appointment is temporary for a period of four years, under the condition of a positive assessment at the end of the first year. PhD candidates contribute 20% of their time to teaching in years 2-4. Starting date: as soon as possible An assessment may be part of the procedure, consisting of psychological tests and an interview.

Where will you be working?

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) has about 7,000 students and 700 staff, who make up an informal, personal, and inspiring academic community. We offer an ambitious, open, and dynamic working environment that encourages both students and staff to keep innovating. Approximately 25% of our students and 35% of our staff come from abroad, contributing to an international atmosphere. With EQUIS and AACSB accreditations, FEB is among the top 1% of business schools worldwide. At FEB, we believe in connecting for impact: we bring together students, academics, and external stakeholders to collectively make a positive influence on regional, national, and global economic and business issues, both in academia and society. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Economics and Business, visit rug.nl/feb .

The PhD positions are embedded in the research programme OPERA of FEB's Research Institute. The project will be supervised by a multidisciplinary team of researchers with a background in medicine, healthcare (operations) management, health policy and data analytics.

For more information about the project content, please contact Prof. Taco van der Vaart (Professor of Supply Chain Management, Head of the Operations Department) or Prof. Huib Cense (Professor of Health System Innovation, Surgeon at the Red Cross Hospital Beverwijk and NWZ Alkmaar/Den Helder).

Application procedure

Step 1: Your application

After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation by email.

Step 2: Selection

The selection committee assesses your application and you will be notified as soon as possible whether you are invited for an interview.

Step 3: First interview

We would like to get to know each other better in a first interview, which can take place either online or on location.

Step 4: Second interview and possible assessment or guest lecture

We may schedule a second interview with you. Depending on the position, this interview can be complemented with an assessment or guest lecture.

Step 5: Terms of employment meeting

After a positive interview, we will discuss the terms of employment together. When everything is completed, we are happy to welcome you at the University of Groningen!

Interested?

Does this vacancy appeal to you? If so, click on the button below and apply straightaway.

Please add the following documents to your application:

• Your CV.
• A motivation letter (1A4 max) and a short study proposal for the PhD project (optional, 2 A4 max)
• A scan of your diploma including transcripts, proof of English and Dutch proficiency (if applicable).