PhD Position in Health Economics and Pharmaceutical Policy at KU Leuven KU Leuven in Belgium

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.