PhD candidate within the DOAC-FRAIL study group

Job Description
We are searching for an enthusiastic, driven PhD candidate eager to take on new challenges and make an impact. As our PhD candidate you will be involved in starting up our international DOAC-FRAIL randomized controlled trial in which we will investigate the efficacy of a Single Monitoring and Adjustment Strategy for DOAC usage in the frail older population. With this strategy, participants will be set to a DOAC based on DOAC levels. We hypothesize that this Single Monitoring and Adjustment Strategy will lead to a reduction in major bleedings and thrombosis.
Our DOAC-FRAIL study group consists of an interdisciplinary team of physicians (internists, cardiologists, geriatricians, physicians working in nursing homes), biochemists, laboratory technicians, researchers, students, an epidemiologist and a pharmacist. The DOAC-FRAIL study group has an extensive network of collaborators within institutions in and outside the Netherlands (specifically Belgium).

Your principal responsibility will be to fulfil all the requirements to obtain a PhD degree at Maastricht University including, but not limited, to the following:

• Start-up of the DOAC-FRAIL RCT;
• Inclusion, baseline and follow-up visits;
• Data-collection and data analysis.
• Writing several scientific publications which form the central corpus of your PhD thesis.

You’ll be working across multiple centres in the South of the Netherlands and Belgium, with your home base in Maastricht, where you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with experts and contribute to innovative research.
Since a PhD is primarily a research position, the candidate is not required to lecture or tutor, however such opportunities can be made available to the right candidate if so desired.

Requirements
We are looking for someone who thrives in teamwork, communicates clearly and effectively, and approaches each task with punctuality, initiative, and determination. We seek candidates with the following essential qualifications:

• Master’s degree (or Dutch university equivalent) in medicine or biomedical sciences (or equivalent);
• Experience with human studies and statistical methodology is a plus;
• Experience with data analysis (e.g., using R or SPSS) is an advantage but not a requirement. We are looking for a candidate who is motivated to develop expertise in handling and interpreting datasets, with training opportunities available;
• A real researcher’s mentality: open-minded, curious, creative, enthusiastic, motivated, persevering, and accurate;
• Team player with good organizational, communication and social skills, and the ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential;
• Having a driver’s license and access to a care is an advantage.

If you're ready to take on this dynamic role and contribute to meaningful discoveries, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

PhD position: Public Economics or Urban Economics

Job Description
We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally oriented organisation where students receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research.

The Department of Microeconomics and Public Economics is looking for a PhD candidate in Public Economics or Urban Economics to investigate the interplay between public policy, housing markets, and economic inequality. Relevant fields in economics include taxation, matching, real estate economics, regional economics, welfare economics, environmental economics, political economy, and applied microeconomics.

The PhD candidate will closely collaborate with researchers working on projects in these fields. Among other things, these projects analyze the consequences of house price booms on the socio-economic segregation of cities, the impact of taxes on homeownership and house prices, misallocation on the housing market and potential remedies, the welfare effects of policy changes, the differential exposure of poor and rich households to climate change, and the political economy of carbon taxes.

Requirements
In order to qualify, you must have successfully completed a Master’s degree (MSc or MPhil) in Economics, Econometrics, Finance, or a related area (or will do so by the summer of 2025) and be competent in written and spoken English. Knowledge of econometric methods, statistical software (e.g., Stata or R), and/or experience in working with (big) data are beneficial. Graduation from a two-year Master’s programme (120 ECTS) and a quantitative background will be advantages.

In case one does not fulfill the starting requirement yet, sometimes a part-time pre-PhD position can be offered, which allows time to catch up.

Next to this the successful candidates for this position have:

• A strong motivation for conducting scientific research
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Good organizational skills
• The ability to work independently as well as within a research team

PhD candidate: DRAGON Trials - Research in Innovative Liver Surgery

Job Description
As part of this PhD program, you will conduct clinical research within the DRAGON trials, an international study aimed at optimizing pre-operative liver growth in patients with primary and secondary liver tumors in need of surgical resection. The backbone of this research is a multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing combined portal and hepatic vein embolization (PVE/HVE) with standard PVE. This technique aims to accelerate and improve liver regeneration, potentially allowing more patients to undergo curative liver surgery. The trial is being conducted in collaboration with hospitals around the world. A more detailed description of the DRAGON study can be found at www.dragontrial.com. There is room for initiative and independent development of new own research projects.

You will be part of an internationally oriented research group in HPB surgery, led by experts from Maastricht University, MUMC+, and the DRAGON consortium. Collaborating closely with an experienced team of HPB surgeons, (interventional) radiologists, oncologists, and other PhD candidates, you will contribute to advancing research in this field. As the PhD program is conducted in collaboration with Amsterdam UMC and CHU Liège, Belgium, candidates from these regions are especially encouraged to apply.

As a PhD candidate, your responsibilities will include:

• Managing trial documents and coordinating international ethical approvals.
• Managing patient inclusion in both national and international study centers.
• Collecting and analyzing clinical data, as well as assessing imaging and liver function using CT, MRI, and scintigraphy.
• Collaborating within a multidisciplinary team of physician-researchers, HPB surgeons, (interventional) radiologists, and oncologists.
• Publishing research findings and presenting at national and international conferences.
• Potential involvement in teaching and student supervision.

Requirements
The ideal candidate is analytical, proactive, and able to work both independently and within a multidisciplinary team. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential, along with adaptability in a dynamic research environment.

Candidates should meet the following qualifications:

• A master's degree in medicine, technical medicine, or a healthcare-related field.
• Affinity with clinical research and oncological surgery.
• A proactive and independent approach, while also being a strong team player.
• Proficiency in English (C1 level or higher).
• Experience in scientific research is an advantage but not required.
• Enthusiasm for science, collaboration, perseverance, and a strong work ethic.

PhD-positions in field of Operations Research & Econometrics

Job Descriptions
We have two PhD positions, both fully funded for four years, according to the labour agreement of Dutch universities. Both contain a moderate teaching load of at most 25%. The first PhD position is within the Operations Research group, the second one is within the Econometrics group. Details about the two groups can be found here: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/department-quantitative-economics.

For the Operations Research position, preference is for candidates who are interested in topics that lie on the border of optimization by the use of heuristic algorithms and (Explainable) Artificial Intelligence ((X)AI). Specifically, in this position, the chosen candidate will conduct research on how machine learning techniques or XAI can be leveraged by heuristic algorithms, or conversely, how heuristics can be enhanced by incorporating machine learning techniques. Research proposals on these topics are welcome, but not mandatory. Also candidates with a broader interest in Operations Research and/or Data Science are invited to apply.

For the Econometrics position, preference is for candidates interested at the intersection of time series econometrics and machine learning. The chosen candidate will conduct research on using machine learning methods such as artificial neural networks for modelling latent time series through state space models. Topics that can be investigated include setting up machine learning methods for handling typical features of economic and climatological time series (such as strong persistence), developing inference methods for these machine learning tools, and considering applications to macroeconomics, text analytics and climatology. Given the nature of the project, preference will be given to candidates interested in theoretical and computational research. Brief research statements of candidates are appreciated but not mandatory.

Requirements
Candidates need to hold a master's degree (or be close to completion) in operations research, econometrics, data science, mathematics, computer science, or an equivalent study program and should demonstrate excellent study results. Proficient programming skills are required (ideally Python, R , Julia or C++). Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Candidates are expected to start preferably September 1, 2025.

We have a large and culturally diverse PhD community in our department, and welcome enthusiastic, talented new PhD students.

PhD positions on Inequality Dynamics at the Department of Macro, International and Labour Economics

Job Description
The Department of Macro, International and Labour Economics (MILE) at the School of Business and Economics (SBE) of Maastricht University will offer up to 3 PhD positions, starting September 1, 2025. These positions will be for 4 years and all work under a department-wide research theme of Inequality Dynamics.

The research theme on Inequality Dynamics focuses on understanding how past, contemporary and (expected) future environmental, political, and technological transformations differentially impact economic activity and well-being of firms, individuals, and societies. Particular focus lies on understanding these transformational processes – the dynamics – and on the heterogeneous paths through which adjustments take place, where inequality enters as either a determining feature or as an observable outcome of transitions. Combining micro- and macro-level approaches from different areas and subfields in economics, the insights generated by the research of this theme shed light on a variety of relevant questions facing societies across industrialized, emerging and developing economies.

Each selected candidate will work on one of a range of parallel projects giving complementary, yet distinct insights. These could include:

• Investigating the link between central bank policies focused on the green transition and economic disparities.
• Developing empirical measures of narratives around fiscal policy and inequality, then using these to expand our understanding of the medium- to long-run effects of fiscal stabilisation policies on income and wealth inequality.
• Exploring the extent to which economic inequality is (causally) related to lifespan and health inequality, using these insights to develop inequality metrics that account for both differences in income/wealth and health/lifespan.

Requirements
Eligible candidates must have successfully completed a – preferably 2-year (120 ECTS or equivalent) – Master’s degree (MSc, MPhil or MRes) in (Quantitative) Economics, Econometrics, Computational Social Science or a related area before September 2025 and have an excellent command of English. We are looking for highly motivated candidates with strong technical skills who have a proven interest in economic research. Candidates are invited to express a preference for a specific project or propose one of their own which fits into the overall research theme. Applicants interested in submitting their own proposal are encouraged to do so within a European context.