Fellow 15 (project 3.16)

Low value care harms patients, overburdens healthcare professionals, threatens healthcare systems and damages the climate. Initiatives have been made across healthcare systems to reduce low value care, however, the monitoring of the effectiveness of these initiatives are limited by the lack of efficient methods.  Existing clinical and administrative registries may be useful tools in this context, however, the potential for using them in routine practice has so far only been partly explored. 

This project will use a quantitative approach by analysing clinical and administrative health registries using advanced epidemiologic and statistical methods. The objectives of the project are: 1. Review existing attempts to develop indicators of low-value care using register data 2. Examine the effectiveness of the Danish version of the Choosing Wisely initiative, including impact on healthcare costs and inequality in healthcare; 3. Develop recommendations on using routine clinical and administrative data sources for reducing the use of low value care  
The fellow will work closely with experienced multidisciplinary colleagues at Danish Center for Health Services Research, as well as national and international partners. The research includes secondments for a substantial portion of the recruitment period to prominent organizations and academic institutions in Denmark, Germany and UK, where the fellow will share experiences with assessing low-value care and explore the potential for transferring indicators of low-value care across health systems.  

The Danish Center for Health Services Research is a vibrant, multidisciplinary, mission-driven research institution. We combine a warm and friendly work environment with world-class ambitions. Appointed by the Danish Parliament as the national center for health services research, we are committed to advancing healthcare through high-quality research. Our multidisciplinary team includes approximately 35 members, comprising seven professors, two associate professors, three senior researchers, two assistant professors, three statisticians, three postdocs, and 10 PhD students. Our research focuses on the quality of clinical care, including the implementation of evidence-based practices, comparative effectiveness of clinical interventions, health economic evaluations, and the assessment of quality improvement strategies. 
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).

• Candidates should have a Master’s degree in public health, health services research, health policy and management, health sciences, medical informatics, sociology, or a related field. 
• Experience with quantitative research methods. 
• Basic statistical knowledge and experience with data analysis software (e.g., R, Stata, or similar). 
• Strong analytical skills and problem-solving abilities. 
• Excellent higher education track record and strong scientific curiosity.  
• Fluent spoken and written English skills 

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

• Experience in conducting and reporting on health services research 
• Experience with international collaboration 
• Experience with health information systems 
• 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 3-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 for 3 years with Aalborg University. 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 DK) 1.320= €4488,0 + Monthly mobility allowance = €600. An additional monthly allowance of €660 is applicable depending on family situation. For the duration of the project in Denmark, the salary will be in accordance with the applicable Danish collective agreement. 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 professor Søren Paaske Johnsen (soeren.johnsen@rn.dk). 

Aalborg University (AAU) is one of the five universities in Denmark. It offers education and research within the fields of natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, technical and health sciences. AAU currently consolidates and further develops its profile as a dynamic and innovative research and educational institution oriented towards the surrounding world. It is characterized by combining a keen engagement in local, regional and national issues with an active commitment to international collaboration. Aalborg University focuses on strong national and international world class research groups representing the academic areas of the university. In recent years, Aalborg University has risen up the international lists of university rankings. Aalborg University appears on the great majority of ranking lists, and is among the top two percent of the world’s 17,000 universities. It is ranked as the best engineering university in Europe and in world Top-5 on sustainability. 
Doctoral degrees for fellows based at the Psychiatry Region North Denmark and the Danish Center for Health Services Research will be awarded by Aalborg University under the supervision of Prof. J. Mainz and Prof. S. Paaske Johnsen.