Doctoral Researcher (2 positions) in Health Economics

Tilburg School of Economics and Management (TiSEM)  at Tilburg University is one of Europe's leading centers for research in economics. In addition to the strong research focus and collegial research climate, it offers a wide variety of educational programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with about 7,000 students enrolled. The School is well connected to both policymakers and industry in the region and internationally, providing ample opportunities to create impact through research.

Tilburg University invites applications for

Doctoral Researcher (100 %, 2 positions)

with a focus on health economics to work and pursue a doctorate in the field of Health Economics.

The positions are part of HEPARD (Health Economic Policy Advice with Real-world Data), a European interdisciplinary doctoral training network funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme (MSCA). HEPARD equips early-career researchers with solid theoretical foundations, advanced empirical methods, and the ability to collaborate across disciplines.

Each candidate will focus on one of the following two areas: 
1. Postpartum Care and Childcare Policies. The project examines how postpartum care services and subsidized universal childcare in the Netherlands affect parents' physical and mental health.  
2. Insurance Design and Health Insurance Deductibles. The project explores how the design of health insurance contracts affects healthcare utilization, healthcare costs, and health outcomes. While deductibles reduce moral hazard and give financial incentives to patients to avoid unnecessary care, they might also cause patients to avoid necessary care, with possible negative consequences on health.   

Key objectives include: 
• Examine Health Outcomes: Carry out empirical analyses to study health outcomes of policy interventions in one of the two areas.
• Contribute to Policy Discussions: Provide evidence-based recommendations for policies based on the results.

Position 1 includes a three-months research stay at University of Duisburg Essen. Position 2 includes a three-months research stay at the University of Oslo. Both positions include a two-months internship at a practitioner partner.

We are looking for candidates with: 
• An academic Master's or MPhil/Research Master's degree in economics, econometrics, or a closely related field with advanced training in microeconometric methods, in particular causal inference.
• Completed the previous degree with an excellent GPA (top 10% of class as a guideline).
• Proficiency in English to be proven by means of an IELTS score of at least 7.0, with no sub scores below 6.5, a TOEFL score of at least 100 (internet-based) or 600 (paper-based), a Cambridge CAE (at least B), or a Cambridge CPE. Exemptions can be provided upon request to native English speakers or to candidates who have obtained their bachelor's and master's degree in English in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia, or New Zealand.
• Programming skills in Stata, R or Matlab.
• Intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor, and a keen interest in policy-relevant empirical research.
• Desirable: familiarity with health insurance systems, structural estimation, or administrative data.
• Mobility rule: the candidate must not have resided or carried out a main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to your recruitment.
 

 As a PhD student, you will primarily work on the development, implementation, and publication of research projects in research area 1 or 2. You will be a full-time staff member at the Department of Econometrics and Operations Research at TISEM.  You will benefit from the department's strong research focus and numerous resources (e.g., databases, research seminars, brown bags and reading groups, career planning, skills-enhancement workshops, international conferences, practitioner contacts, etc.). In addition, you will enjoy participating in HEPARD network training and activities, including international and interdisciplinary academic training, workshops, conferences, and soft-skills training, both online and in-person at all HEPARD locations. 

 A PhD dissertation at CentER requires the design and execution of 3 studies. Research typically involves conceptualizing research questions and ideas, quantitatively analyzing data, and writing and presenting academic papers. The aim is to publish those projects in high-quality academic journals. Upon successful completion of your courses and your research work, as demonstrated by a submitted and approved PhD dissertation and the subsequent defense, you will be awarded a doctoral degree by Tilburg University.

 You will be enrolled as a PhD candidate in the world-class PhD program of CentER Graduate School of Economics, where you will receive extensive training in theory and methods by taking PhD-level courses. The course load amounts to 36 ECTS, equivalent to 6 full courses. The course program will consist of HEPARD core and elective courses, and CentER courses, and will be composed in consultation with your supervisor and PhD program coordinator. Part of the training can be adapted to the previous educational achievements of the PhD candidate by mutual agreement with the supervisor.

 The PhD position includes a travel budget for attending HEPARD workshops at other network locations, as well as for work visits and academic conferences. 

 80% of the position’s time will be dedicated to the completion of your PhD research, and 20% to the acquisition of academic skills through teaching courses and supervising master/bachelor theses within the department.

Conditions of employment: 
Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment. Our offer includes: 
• A position based on 1,0 fte (40 hours per week)
• A salary of €3,059 gross per month in the first year, up to €3,881 gross per month in the fourth year for full-time employment, based on UFO profile Promovendus and salary scale P.
• This is a vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 8 under b of the CLA DU. You will initially receive a temporary contract for the duration of 18 months to assess your suitability. The evaluation will take place after about 14 months. If suitable, this contract will be followed by a new fixed-term contract of 30 months. (N.B. program is 4 years, full-time).
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
• The opportunity to work partly on campus and partly from home with a home office allowance of €2 per day.
Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transportation.
• A monthly internet fee of €25.
• An Options Model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave, more pension, a bicycle, or personal training at our Sports Center.
• A moving allowance (subject to conditions).
• Employees from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for the 30/20/10% tax facility.
• A pension with ABP; the most sustainable Dutch pension fund.
• Training in personal development, career development, leadership, education, and research, or a language course at our Language Center.
• A work culture in which we embrace differences, everyone is welcome, and given equal opportunities.
• A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport. 

For more information, see our website and the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. 

Information and application 
 We cordially invite you to apply before February 15, 2026. Address your cover letter to Bettina Siflinger (Position 1), Martin Salm (Position 2), or both in case you intend to apply to both positions, and attach your CV. Indicate in the subject line of your application email whether you are applying to position 1, position 2, or both. Please submit:
• Letter of motivation outlining your interest in the position and your relevant experience.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Official copy of your university degree and grades (full transcripts of BSc and MSc).
• A PDF copy of your Master's thesis or other research-oriented output (such as a Bachelor's thesis or a term paper). If you are currently working on your Master's thesis, feel free to submit your thesis draft.
• At least two academic reference letters. Please ask your letter writers to submit the letters with your name in the subject line by email to secretariaat.econometrie@tilburguniversity.edu
• Proof of proficiency in English, or a request for exemption.
• If available, a recent GRE or GMAT score.
 

 Please send your complete application documents – in one PDF file –to secretariaat.econometrie@tilburguniversity.edu.

 Interviews are expected to take place in early March.

For more information about the positions, please contact Bettina Siflinger (b.m.siflinger@tilburguniversity.edu)  for position 1 and Martin Salm (m.salm@tilburguniversity.edu) for position 2.

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