PhD Candidate in Health-Economic Modelling for Dementia Support Technologies

Welcome to Maastricht University! 
With dementia cases set to triple by 2050, your expertise in health-economic analysis is crucial to evaluating the cost-effectiveness of psychosocial and tech-based support to improve the lives of people with dementia and their informal caregivers.

PhD Candidate in Health-Economic Modelling for Dementia Support Technologies

Our goal: This PhD project is part of the European project DEM-CAPS (www.demcaps.org) aimed at developing and validating a health-economic modelling framework that demonstrates the value of psychosocial support interventions for dementia in collaboration with reimbursement decision-makers and patient organizations. 

The project addresses key issues: 1) qualitative research on stakeholder priorities (Luxembourg), 2) systematic review on surrogate outcomes for economic evaluation (Czechia), 3) observational data analysis on the validation of these outcomes (Germany), 4) integration into a health-economic model (applied to two case studies) (Netherlands), and 5) stakeholder validation (Sweden). Dissemination includes open-access publications, conferences, and training for PhD students, with direct engagement from Alzheimer Europe and its networks. 

This vacancy applies to key issue 4 on model-based health-economic evaluation. Your work will directly inform decision-makers about the societal return on investment in dementia care innovations. 

Your colleagues: You will be embedded in an international and interdisciplinary consortium involving academic partners across Europe, Alzheimer Europe, and policy stakeholders. Within Maastricht University, you will work closely with experienced health economists and researchers specialised in dementia.

What you do
As a PhD candidate, you will lead data analysis using longitudinal cohorts from various European countries and apply advanced statistical methods (e.g., ordered probit regression, mixed generalized linear models) to assess disease progression, care transitions, and quality of life. You will develop and refine a health-economic R-based simulation model, integrating surrogate outcomes from psychosocial and technology-based interventions. You will make your model results accessible via user-friendly tools for stakeholders and disseminate your results through open-access publications and policy briefs. You will receive expert guidance from leading international researchers in dementia model-based health-economic evaluation (www.ipecad.org), ensuring a world-class PhD experience with impactful mentorship and collaborative opportunities.  

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you. 

What you bring 
We are curious who you are and what you bring to the table. Do you recognize yourself in this?

We are seeking a motivated candidate with a Master degree in epidemiology, data science or health economics. Experience in simulation modelling, regression analysis, mathematical background and (clinical) work in dementia disorders are a plus. We seek someone passionate about data analysis and simulation modelling and comfortable working in an interdisciplinary, international team. Excellent analytical and communication skills are essential, with fluency in English required. If you are eager to contribute to innovative research that bridges technology, economics, and public health, we invite you to apply.

What we offer 
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer: 

• A 12-month contract (1.0 FTE) with the prospect of a 3 year extension. 
• A gross monthly salary between €3.059 and €3.881 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours. 
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home. 
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas. 
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with. 
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities. 
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe. 

About the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
FHML is committed to health in the broadest sense: from molecule to human, and from healthcare to prevention. We train healthcare professionals and researchers through innovative educational programmes and conduct groundbreaking research in health and well-being. As part of Maastricht UMC+ (MUMC+), our international and interdisciplinary community forms a unique collaboration between university and academic hospital, where education, research, and care come together.

Interested? 
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to one of the following persons:

Prof. Dr. M. de Vugt, Maastricht University +31 43 387 7445 or m.devugt@maastrichtuniversity.nl 
Dr. R. Handels, Maastricht University, +31 43 388 1036 or ron.handels@maastrichtuniversity.nl 
Prof. Dr. Linus Jönsson, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, linus.jonsson@ki.se 

The application deadline is 22 March 2026.

Please include your CV and motivation letter. A first round of interviews will take place online, a second round at Maastricht University in March. A reference check is part of the selection process.

Apply now via the button below. We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow. 

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.