The Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy at KU Leuven is seeking a motivated PhD student to conduct research in health economics, supervised by Professors Jeroen Luyten, Raf Van Gestel, and Ronny Bruffaerts. The position is based within the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, an interdisciplinary department renowned for its research on the societal aspects of healthcare, including disease prevention, health promotion, healthcare policy, bioethics, health law, health economics, and more. The department fosters a collaborative environment with a strong impact at both national and international levels, and the successful candidate will also work closely with the public health psychiatry research group.
This doctoral research is part of the EPCAP 3.0 project, which evaluates recent policy changes in primary psychological care in Belgium, particularly the introduction of free psychological counseling sessions under the NIHDI convention. The PhD student will be responsible for the health economic evaluation of this policy, investigating the economic impact of mental health problems in Belgium, including healthcare consumption, productivity loss, private costs, and loss of well-being. The research will assess whether free psychotherapy has improved accessibility, whether earlier diagnosis and treatment reduce disease severity, and the societal return of the policy in terms of long-term healthcare costs, productivity, disease burden, and social equity. The project will utilize advanced health economic methods and valuable longitudinal datasets tracking Belgian patients with mental health issues.
Applicants should hold a Master's degree with at least 'distinction', preferably in a relevant field such as (applied) economics, psychology, medicine, or social sciences. Strong analytical and quantitative skills, a solid foundation in statistics, and strong written communication abilities are required. Experience with health economics and HTA is advantageous but not essential. Fluency in Dutch and French is desirable, and an interest in mental health and policy is expected.
The position offers an initial one-year full-time contract with an attractive salary, office space, laptop, and access to a wide range of employee benefits, including free courses, training, bicycle allowance, and train subscription. The contract is intended as the basis for a four-year doctoral study, subject to positive evaluation. The successful candidate will receive intensive supervision, opportunities for training and conference attendance, and will join a dynamic team of young researchers specializing in health economics, HTA, policy evaluation, and medical decision-making. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, and provides support for accessibility and individual needs. The application deadline is November 6, 2025.
