PhD Position in Health Economics: Modelling the Spatio-Temporal Spread of COVID-19 and Economic Activity Babes-Bolyai University in

This fully funded PhD position at Babes-Bolyai University, Romania, is part of the HEPARD MSCA European doctoral network, focusing on advanced research in health economics, causal inference, and the modelling of the spatio-temporal spread of COVID-19. The project aims to train early-stage researchers in evaluating real-world policy impacts, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches combining economics, public health, and data science.

The doctoral researcher will develop and apply state-of-the-art microeconometric and causal inference methods to study the impact of mobility and economic activity on the spread of COVID-19 in Romania. Key objectives include constructing a dynamic Mobility Index using transportation data, estimating the effects of government interventions on public health outcomes, integrating SEIR epidemiological models with economic analysis, and providing data-driven policy recommendations to balance economic activity and public health measures.

The position offers a robust training program, including core courses in health economics, microeconometrics, epidemiology, and healthcare decision-making, as well as electives in data science and public health. The successful candidate will participate in network-wide workshops, conferences, and regular online seminars, and will benefit from two secondments: one academic (at Tilburg University, The Netherlands) and one non-academic (policy experience). Career development support includes training in leadership, teamwork, communication, and grant writing.

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field (Economics, Business, Engineering, IT, Computational Science, etc.), possess strong programming skills (Matlab, Stata, R, or Python), and demonstrate excellent English proficiency. Candidates must not have resided in Romania for more than 12 months in the past 3 years and should be within the first four years of their research careers. The position is open to candidates willing to relocate to Romania for the full three-year appointment and to travel for training and research stays.

The position is funded by the Marie Curie MSCA program, offering a gross salary of approximately 2835 EUR/month (including taxes and insurances), with additional mobility support. The appointment starts on 1 October 2026. Application materials must be submitted by 13 March 2026, 16:00 (EEST), and should include a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, proof of English proficiency (optional), and other supporting documents as detailed in the call.

For more information, visit the HEPARD project website or contact the provided emails. This is an excellent opportunity for highly motivated candidates interested in policy-relevant research at the intersection of economics, public health, and data science.