Fellow 3 (project 1.3)

Socioeconomic disparities in the incidence of acute and chronic diseases are well-documented across healthcare systems, as are deprivation-related disparities in clinical outcomes. However, the role of these disparities in access to and quality of healthcare services is less studied. Growing evidence suggests that such disparities not only exist but may further contribute to and even exacerbate existing health inequalities. 
Systematic monitoring of healthcare disparities is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at ensuring more equitable care. However, there is a pressing need for better, more accessible tools and measures to assess socioeconomic disparities in healthcare—and for effective strategies to implement them in routine clinical practice.

The fellow will take a quantitative approach, integrating data from the pan-European EUSILC survey with national clinical quality registries and administrative health data using advanced epidemiological and statistical methods. The project aims to review the use of the European Deprivation Index in healthcare across different countries, develop and adapt a Danish version of the Index while assessing its scalability, and evaluate its usability in monitoring temporal changes in healthcare disparities and patient outcomes. 
A key component of this research is co-creation, ensuring that the developed methods and indicators are not only scientifically robust but also practically applicable in health policy and clinical settings. The fellow will work closely with health authorities, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to refine the methodology and align it with real-world decision-making needs. Through stakeholder engagement and iterative feedback loops, the project will enhance the usability, relevance, and implementation potential of the deprivation-related health disparity indicators. 
The fellow will collaborate closely with experienced multidisciplinary colleagues at the 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 leading organizations and academic institutions in Denmark, Italy, and Germany, where the fellow will test the relevance and feasibility of the developed methods. 

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, economics, applied statistics, social sciences 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.