Fellow 1 (project 1.1)

This project will contribute to the development and implementation of a Health System Performance Assessment (HSPA) framework in Luxembourg, focusing on patient-centeredness. Building on Luxembourg’s participation in the OECD PaRIS survey and ObSanté’s online dashboard, it will co-develop patient-centeredness indicators tailored to a multicultural, cross-border setting and establish a methodology to measure their influence on healthcare decision-making. 
A key aspect is examining how patient characteristics—such as gender, age, migration background, and language preferences—affect experiences of patient-centered care. The fellow will analyze Luxembourg’s PaRIS survey data using appropriate statistical methods to ensure robust results despite small sample sizes. 
The project will also assess the real-world impact of an online dashboard on decision-making by policymakers, healthcare providers, and patients. While most studies focus on clinicians and providers, little research exists on how patients and the public interact with such tools. Drawing on developments in social and behavioral sciences, the project will explore the role of data visualization in improving patient engagement. 
To strengthen the Luxembourg model, the research will draw on international experiences, including Ireland and the OECD, where similar initiatives have been implemented, ensuring its relevance for small and diverse healthcare systems.

The fellow will conduct a quantitative analysis of how patient characteristics—such as gender, age, migration background, and language preferences—affect experiences of patient-centered care, using data from the OECD PaRIS survey in Luxembourg. Given the challenges of working with small sample sizes, the fellow will apply appropriate statistical methods to ensure robust and reliable results. 
Building on these findings, and in collaboration with patients and the public through co-creation methodologies, the fellow will develop and validate a set of patient-centeredness indicators tailored to Luxembourg’s multicultural and cross-border healthcare setting. This process will ensure that the indicators are relevant, actionable, and meaningful for both healthcare users and decision-makers. 
To assess how these indicators influence decision-making, the fellow will conduct a review on recent advancements in social and behavioral sciences, particularly regarding the role of data visualization in improving engagement with health system performance information. The insights gained will inform the evaluation of an online dashboard developed by ObSanté, analyzing its impact on decision-making among policymakers, healthcare providers, and patients. 
To ensure that the project benefits from international best practices, the fellow will analyze similar initiatives in other countries, such as Ireland and the OECD, integrating lessons learned into the Luxembourg model. As part of the HealthIntelAct doctoral network, the fellow will undertake mandatory secondments to organizations in the Netherlands, Ireland, and France, accounting for about 50% of the total recruitment period. These secondments will provide valuable hands-on experience, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensure exposure to different health system contexts. This international perspective will enhance the project’s broader applicability, particularly for small and diverse healthcare systems. 

At ObSanté, a multidisciplinary team of health economists, system analysts, quality and patient-centeredness experts, epidemiologists, statisticians, and data scientists work together to generate actionable performance intelligence for health policy decision-making. The fellow will benefit from an interdisciplinary research environment and close collaboration with international partners.  
This project will run in close collaboration with the University of Amsterdam – Amsterdam UMC, department of Public and Occupational Health (coordinator of HealthIntelAct). 
Weblink to ObSanté: Observatoire national de la santé – Le gouvernement luxembourgeois  For more information, please visit the LinkedIn profile of the principal investigator (PI). 

• Candidates should have a Master’s degree in health services research, psychology, public health, health economics, applied statistics, social sciences or a related field. 
• Experience with quantitative analysis and literature reviews 
• Good statistical knowledge and hands-on experience with statistical programs (e.g. R, SAS) 
• An interest in the design and visualization of indicator dashboards 
• Strong communication, organization, and analytical skills  
• Excellent higher education track record and strong scientific curiosity.  
• Fluent spoken and written English and French skills 

In addition, the following experience would be helpful, but not essential: 

• Experience in performing health services research  
• Practical knowledge of health services operations (for example through prior exposure to management, clinical experience or field research in a health care institution) 
• Experience in studying European healthcare systems, particularly in the context of health system performance assessment 

We seek a highly motivated aspiring researcher with a strong interest in conducting research, who thrives in an interdisciplinary environment and project, and can work both independently and as part of a team. 

This (2+1)-year PhD position is funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions of the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101168576.  You will be appointed as fulltime PhD with the Observatoire national de la santé in Luxembourg.  The Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) programme offers an attractive salary and working conditions. The successful candidates will receive a salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for early-stage researchers. Exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment [Living Allowance = €3.400 * (country specific correction factor for LU) 1 = €3.400 + Monthly mobility allowance = €600. An additional monthly allowance of €660 is applicable depending on family situation.   In addition to their individual scientific projects, all fellows will benefit from further continuing education, which includes internships and secondments, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences. 

Be aware the contracts include social security coverage providing at least sickness and parental benefits, invalidity and accidents at work and occupational diseases, covering the fellows in every place of implementation of HealthIntelAct activities. As these will be paid by the employer and depend on country-specific regulations, the final net salary that each fellow will receive may differ. 

See recruitment procedure. You can apply using the online application form. For more information about the position you can contact Till Seuring, PhD (till.seuring@obs.etat.lu) or Catherine Goetzinger, PhD (Catherine.goetzinger@obs.etat.lu).  

The National Health Observatory ObSanté is a public administration placed under the authority of the Minister of Health. However, the National Health Observatory is scientifically and professionally independent in terms of its observation tools, findings and proposals. In its first two years, it has built a creative, interdisciplinary and inspiring environment to work in, and has strong connections to national and international experts as well as policy makers in the field of health and health systems. The purpose of the National Health Observatory is to guide health decisions and policies and to assess their impact by interconnecting data (health status health determinants, non-monetary resources and use of the health and care system). 
Doctoral degrees for fellows based at ObSanté will be awarded by the University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands) under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dionne Kringos, who is appointed at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Amsterdam.