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.

KU Leuven’s LUHTAR (Interfaculty Health Technology Assessment Unit) is offering a fully funded PhD position in Health Economics, focusing on the economics and policy of pharmaceutical distribution systems in Europe. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team at the Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy and the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, working on a project that examines Public Service Obligations (PSOs), economic sustainability, regulatory compliance costs, inventory obligations, and the impact of medicine shortages. The research aims to evaluate how European healthcare systems can ensure continuous, affordable, and equitable access to medicines in a cost-effective manner. This PhD opportunity is highly policy-relevant, offering collaboration with stakeholders and the potential for high-impact publications. The candidate will benefit from intensive supervision by experts in health economics and clinical medicine, as well as access to courses, training, and conferences related to the research theme. The position is full-time for four years (initially a one-year contract, renewable upon positive evaluation), with an attractive salary and employment benefits, including office/laptop, cycling allowance, public transport subscription, and free courses. Applicants should have a Master’s degree with at least distinction in Applied Economics, Commercial Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline. Strong analytical and quantitative research skills, familiarity with statistics and quantitative research methods, and excellent communication skills are required. An interest in pharmaceutical policy and health economics is essential. The application deadline is 27 March 2026. Applications must be submitted via the KU Leuven online application tool. For further information, contact Prof. Jeroen Luyten at [email protected]. This is a rare opportunity to contribute to policy-relevant research in health economics and pharmaceutical policy at one of Europe’s leading universities.

This PhD position in pharmaceutical economics and policy at KU Leuven offers a unique opportunity to investigate the sustainability and effectiveness of pharmaceutical distribution systems across Europe. The research will be supervised by Professor Jeroen Luyten and Professor Steven Simoens, both leading experts in health economics and policy. The project is embedded within the Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy and LUHTAR, KU Leuven’s interdisciplinary research unit on Health Technology Assessment, part of the Department of Public Health and Primary Care. These centers host a vibrant community of PhD students and provide a wide range of academic activities, teaching, and training relevant to the project. The core aim of the project is to explore how European healthcare systems can redesign public service obligations (PSOs) and pharmaceutical distribution models to ensure continuous, affordable, and equitable access to medicines. Key research topics include the economic sustainability of PSOs, costs of regulatory compliance and stockpiling, and the impact of medicine shortages. The project promises strong policy relevance, close engagement with real-world stakeholders, and opportunities for high-impact publications. It is particularly suited for students interested in health economics, European health systems, and pharmaceutical policy. Applicants should hold a master’s degree with at least 'distinction', preferably in applied economics, business or commercial engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, or biomedical sciences. Essential skills include analytical thinking, a strong foundation in statistics and quantitative research, excellent written and oral communication, and a keen interest in pharmaceutical policy. The position offers an initial one-year contract as a full-time scientific staff member within LUHTAR, with the intention to extend to a four-year doctoral study subject to positive evaluation. Part-time positions are possible if necessary. Successful candidates will receive intensive supervision from specialists in health economics and clinical experts, access to training sessions and conferences, and an attractive salary. Additional benefits include a shared office, laptop, and various employee perks such as free courses, training, bicycle allowance, and train subscription. KU Leuven is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and socially safe environment, embracing diversity and equal opportunity for all. The provisional starting date is July 1, 2026, but flexibility is possible. The application deadline is March 27, 2026. For further information, applicants are encouraged to contact Prof. dr. Jeroen Luyten at [email protected]. More details about LUHTAR and the research environment can be found at the provided links. Interested candidates should apply online via the KU Leuven jobsite.