Doctoral scholarship holder Cost effectivity of integrated chronic care for diabetes (and co-morbidities) in primary health care in Flanders

 Department: Department of Sociology

Regime Full-time

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20 000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. 

The Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health are looking for a full-time (100%) doctoral scholarship holder in the field of the cost effectivity of integrated chronic care for diabetes (and co-morbidities) in primary health care in Flanders.

Position

• You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis in the field of health sciences with a focus on health economics. Your work is part of a larger collaboration between the Centre for Population, Family and Health (CPFH) (of the Faculty of Social Sciences) and the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health (FAMPOP) (of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences) on integrated chronic care in primary health care:

The increasing prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and the frequent concurrence of comorbidity puts a heavy strain on societies (both the patients and health system), in terms of healthcare cost, patients' quality of life and loss of productivity. Interventions such as Integrated Chronic Care (ICC) and disease specific care trajectories are introduced to better address these complex needs but there is limited evaluation of these interventions in Belgium. The specific PhD project aims to address the knowledge gap by (1) estimating the cost of care for T2D patients with and without comorbidities for different levels of ICC implementation in Flanders; (2) assessing the impact of different levels of ICC implementation on HRQoL among T2D patients with and without comorbidities; and (3) evaluating the costeffectiveness of different levels of ICC implementation in the provision of care among T2D patients with and without comorbidities.

• You will publish scientific articles related to the research project.
• You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for the Department of Sociology and the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health.

Profile

• You hold a Master degree in <field> economics, socio-economic sciences, sociology or public health or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
• You can demonstrate excellent study results.
• You are skilled in quantitative research methods, including economic analyses, or you are capable of developing these skills.
• Knowledge of the Belgian health care system is a strong bonus.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

What we offer

• We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed once for another two-year period.
• The planned start date is 1 October 2022 or as soon as possible after that date.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• You will work alternately at the City Campus and the Campus Drie Eiken in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including August 8^th of 2022 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: a motivation letter, your academic CV and an academic text of your writing (thesis, assignment, academic publication).
• The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Edwin Wouters (edwin.wouters@uantwerpen.be), Prof. Josefien van Olmen (josefien.vanolmen@uantwerpen.be) and Dr. Veerle Buffel (veerle.buffel@uantwerpen.be) .

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.

Apply