Postdoctoral Researcher in Health Technology Assessment: Informal Caregiver Impacts in HTA (I-CARE)

Job description

As healthcare systems face growing demand and workforce shortages, more care is being delivered at home. While this helps sustain healthcare services, it also increases reliance on informal caregivers. The health, wellbeing, and economic consequences of caregiving are substantial, yet are rarely considered in HTAs and reimbursement decisions.
The I-CARE project aims to address this gap. Combining methodological innovation in HTA with a citizen science approach, the project will develop and evaluate a framework for incorporating informal caregiver impacts into healthcare evaluations and decision-making. Working closely with patients, informal caregivers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders, the project seeks to ensure that these impacts are better reflected in healthcare decision-making.
As a postdoctoral researcher, you will play a leading role in the scientific execution of the I-CARE project. You will contribute to the development and evaluation of methods for incorporating informal caregiver impacts into HTAs and healthcare decision-making.
Your work will include stakeholder engagement activities, such as interviews, focus groups, and co-creation sessions; identifying and prioritising caregiver impacts relevant to HTA; developing methodological guidance; and contributing to a practical framework for future use in health economic evaluations.
You will also extend and apply health economic models to assess the societal impact of informal caregiving in dementia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and disseminate findings through scientific publications, conference presentations, and recommendations for policy and practice.
This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to methodological innovation in HTA while helping ensure that informal caregiver impacts are better reflected in healthcare decision-making.

Requirements

We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious researcher with a strong interest in HTA, citizen science, and healthcare decision-making.
You hold a PhD in HTA, Health Sciences, Health Economics, Public Health, Outcomes Research, Implementation Science, or a related discipline
You have experience with HTA, health economics, or related methodological research, preferably including health economic modeling
Experience with participatory research and qualitative research is considered an asset
You have a strong publication record relative to your career stage
You enjoy working in multidisciplinary teams and collaborating with researchers, patients, informal caregivers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders
You have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Dutch; Dutch proficiency is essential for engaging with patients, informal caregivers, and other Dutch-speaking stakeholders throughout the project.

Conditions of employment

As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Twente, you will benefit from:
A 2-year postdoctoral position (0.8-1.0 FTE) with the flexibility to work partially from home;
The opportunity to contribute to a highly relevant methodological project at the intersection of HTA, health economics, citizen science, and healthcare decision-making;
The opportunity to collaborate with researchers, citizens, patient organisations, HTA experts, and policymakers across the Netherlands;
A gross monthly salary ranging from € 3,706 to € 4,599 (scale 10 CAO-NU), depending on your qualifications and experience;
An 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
A solid pension scheme through ABP;
A minimum of 232 leave hours based on a full-time appointment, plus additional leave hours resulting from the University of Twente's working hours arrangement;
Full employee status at the University of Twente with excellent secondary employment conditions;
Excellent opportunities for professional and personal development, including courses, workshops, and conference attendance;
Free access to sports facilities on campus;
A family-friendly work environment with various leave arrangements;
Starting date: 1 March 2027.

Department
At
HTSR
, multidisciplinary expertise is combined to support decisions on health innovation development, evaluation, optimization, and implementation. Research focuses on quantitative analyses supporting strategies to improve the efficiency and sustainability of healthcare systems. The HTSR section is part of the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
BMS and the Technical Medical Center
TechMed
, a leading innovation hub of the University of Twente.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our University. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Additional information

Does this sound appealing? Please apply before December 16, 2026.
Your application must include:
A motivation letter (maximum two pages A4), explaining your interest in this position, relevant experiences, and motivations to apply for this position.
A curriculum vitae, including an overview of completed courses and grades. Candidates may additionally include publications, research experience, and contact details of up to three referees.
For additional information about the position, please contact Dr. Michelle Kip ( m.m.a.kip@utwente.nl
).
Screening is part of the selection procedure.
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