Fellow 16 (project 1.7)

Robust vaccination monitoring systems are essential for identifying coverage gaps and designing targeted interventions. Despite efforts to improve uptake, significant disparities persist, particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the challenges of maintaining high vaccination rates, underscoring the need for comprehensive surveillance systems that link demographic data to vaccination status. 
Various strategies have been implemented to boost vaccine uptake, including policy measures, education campaigns, primary care-based interventions, incentives, and pharmacy-based programs. Innovative approaches, such as behavioral nudges delivered via digital tools, have shown promise in addressing vaccine hesitancy and improving uptake. 
To scale up successful interventions and reduce inequalities, an integrative approach is needed. This includes enhanced safety surveillance, observational studies to assess vaccination impact on health disparities, and the development of a comprehensive national vaccination uptake platform. 
The Oxford-RCGP Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) has been at the forefront of primary care surveillance since 1967, collaborating with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). With a network of nearly 2,000 general practices and data covering over 19 million patients, RSC provides a valuable resource for analyzing vaccination patterns, identifying barriers to uptake, and developing evidence-based strategies to improve coverage and public trust in health policies. 

The fellow will begin by conducting an inventory of ICT strategies used to improve influenza vaccination uptake, focusing on policy interventions, digital tools, and behavioral nudges. The research will identify key factors influencing vaccine uptake across diverse populations and develop actionable performance indicators to assess the effectiveness of vaccination programs. These indicators will be designed to be inclusive, ensuring they align with the needs of underserved and high-risk groups. 
The second phase of the research will center around co-creating people-centered strategies to improve vaccine uptake, particularly among marginalized populations. The fellow will engage directly with healthcare professionals, patients, and policymakers, ensuring that culturally relevant and stakeholder-driven interventions are developed. These strategies will aim to address vaccine hesitancy and promote sustained participation in vaccination programs. 
Additionally, the research will focus on developing data intelligence tools such as actionable dashboards to communicate findings effectively across key stakeholders (e.g., clinicians, policymakers, healthcare managers). These tools will support evidence-based decision-making to improve vaccination uptake and enhance patient engagement in health interventions. 
International secondments to leading organizations in Denmark, Germany, and the UK will play a significant role in the research. During these secondments, the fellow will learn from best practices in eHealth implementation and people-centered vaccination strategies, and apply this knowledge to the Slovenian healthcare context. These secondments will provide a valuable opportunity to engage with international experts, broaden the research’s cross-contextual scope, and ensure that the developed strategies are scalable and applicable across various healthcare systems. 

The Clinical Informatics and Health Outcomes Research Group (CIHORG) is the home of the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC), one of the world oldest sentinel networks as well as involved in a wide range of observational and interventional research.  
The RSC has been involved in the sentinel surveillance of respiratory disease, including influenza and COVID-19, for over 50 years. It is a long-standing collaboration between the RCGP and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).   
The RSC collected pseudonymised data from 2,000 general practice network members and is used for disease surveillance and research. CIHORG has direct links to the RSC member practices who record high quality data, collect virology, serology and other samples, and recruit practices into research projects. 
The fellow will be supervised by researchers who were also involved in HealthIntelAct’s predecessor, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Training Network for Health System Performance Professionals (HealthPros). 

• A Master’s degree in health services research, epidemiology, public health, health economics, applied statistics, biomedical sciences, or a medical degree with relevant experience. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in quantitative methods and experience with programming tools such as R, Stata, Python, or similar. An interest in acquiring new data science and programming skills is required. 
• A strong interest in health services research, with experience and enthusiasm for engaging with stakeholders across healthcare systems. 
• An excellent academic track record, with scientific curiosity and a commitment to rigorous research. 
• Fluent written and spoken English. 

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

• Practical knowledge of health services operations, through management, clinical experience, or field research in healthcare institutions. 
• Previous involvement in health services research projects. 
• Experience with project management, including coordinating tasks, managing timelines, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to achieve research objectives. 
• Demonstrated adaptability, curiosity, problem-solving skills, and leadership capabilities. 
• Experience in studying European healthcare systems, particularly in the context of health system performance assessment 

We are seeking a highly motivated and resourceful aspiring researcher to join our interdisciplinary team for cutting-edge doctoral research. This position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of health services research, epidemiology, and data science, engaging with clinical and managerial stakeholders to create meaningful impact within healthcare systems.

This 3-year PhD position is funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Horizon Europe Guarantee scheme and will be embedded in 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 for 3 years with the University of Oxford. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) programme offers a highly competitive and 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. 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 simon.delusignanpa@phc.ox.ac.uk and bernardo.meza-torres@phc.ox.ac.uk at CIHORG. 

This position is based in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, the UK’s top-ranked university for primary care research. The department is internationally recognized for its excellence in primary care and health services research, with a strong focus on addressing pressing public health challenges through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches. Joining our department provides access to world-class resources, expert mentorship, and a vibrant academic community dedicated to improving health outcomes globally. 
All doctoral degrees for fellows based at the University of Oxford will be awarded by the same institution.