Fully-Funded PhD in Health Economics at University of Duisburg-Essen University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany

🚀 Exciting Opportunity: Fully-Funded PhD in Health Economics at University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany)

Are you passionate about combining economics, data science, and public health to influence real-world policy? The University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) is offering two PhD positions in Health Economics through the HEPARD (Health Economic Policy Advice with Real-world Data) project, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). You’ll work with administrative health data across European systems, apply advanced simulation / machine learning methods, and contribute to policy-relevant research on health insurance models, inequalities, and life-course health trajectories.

📚 Eligibility: Advanced quantitative skills (econometrics, simulation, data analysis), academic background in economics, public economics, or a closely related discipline, programming experience in R, Python, or Stata, must satisfy MSCA mobility rule: not have lived/worked in Germany for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment, no prior PhD (i.e., you must not already hold a doctoral degree).

✅ Advantages / Key Benefits: Competitive salary (TV-L E13, 100%, ~ €4,630/month), training in an interdisciplinary doctoral network (economics, epidemiology, policy engagement), secondments to partner universities (e.g., Tilburg, Uppsala), career development support: grant writing, leadership, communication workshops, impactful research with real-world implications for health policy across Europe.

📅 Deadline: 19 January 2026