Doctoral Scholarship in Implementation and Process Evaluation of Integrated Transitional Care University of Antwerp in United Kingdom

University of Antwerp and Ghent University are offering a full-time doctoral scholarship within the joint PhD project Designing the service of Integrated Transitional Healthcare for Adolescents and young-adults with Rare Diseases (DITHARD). The position is based in Belgium and is formally hosted by the University of Antwerp, with Ghent University as partner institution.

The PhD candidate will contribute to the mixed-methods process evaluation and local implementation of an integrated transitional care model for adolescents and young adults with rare diseases. The project is embedded in implementation science and the Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions. Research will examine implementation fidelity, dose, reach, context, and mechanisms of change, as well as why participants join or drop out of the service. The role also includes contributing to the development of practical tools and materials to support local implementation and dissemination of the care model.

The project is interdisciplinary and connects the Centre for Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC) at the University of Antwerp with the Occupational Therapy Research Group at Ghent University. It brings together expertise from multiple disciplines and uses a range of methodologies, including qualitative research, natural experiments, systematic literature review, implementation research, applied research, and service design. The selected PhD student will work closely with a small team of four doctoral researchers, each with a different methodological focus, in a joint-doctorate setup.

Applicants should hold, or be close to completing, a relevant master’s degree in fields such as medicine, biomedical sciences, nursing, midwifery, health sciences, occupational therapy, rehabilitation sciences, medical sociology, anthropology, psychology, or global health. Strong academic potential, interest in chronic care organisation and paediatrics, motivation for practice-oriented and implementation research, and a willingness to engage with both quantitative and qualitative methods are important. Experience with qualitative analysis software such as NVivo and familiarity with service design approaches are advantageous. Excellent Dutch and English skills at C1 level are required.

The scholarship is funded through an FWO SBO-M project. It starts with a one-year appointment and is renewable after positive evaluation for two additional years, giving a minimum duration of three years. The stipend follows the BAP scales for doctoral scholarship holders. Additional benefits include ecocheques, internet connectivity reimbursement, and bicycle allowance or full public-transport reimbursement. The expected start date is 1 November 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Applicants should be prepared for a hybrid but structured on-site presence across both campuses: on average two days per week at Campus Drie Eiken (University of Antwerp) and two days per week at Ghent University/UZGent, with up to one home-working day per week depending on research activities and agreement with the supervisors. Project-related activities may also take place at UZA, UZGent, KdG, and Artevelde University of Applied Sciences.

Applications must be submitted online through the University of Antwerp recruitment platform by 31 August 2026. The application package should include a motivation letter of no more than one page, a recent CV with education and employment history, diploma certificates with transcripts, and contact details for two referees. Shortlisted candidates should keep 10 September 2026 available for a first interview at Campus Drie Eiken, and a second interview with a preparatory assignment may follow.