Fellow 6 (project 1.5)

Racism and discrimination in healthcare create significant barriers for certain groups in accessing safe and equitable health services. Current health information systems often lack the capacity to capture detailed data on the experiences and outcomes of these groups, making it difficult to identify gaps and improve care. Cultural safety, which focuses on creating environments where individuals feel respected and free from discrimination, is essential to addressing these issues. However, there is a need for better tools and measures to assess cultural safety, inclusiveness, and accessibility in healthcare settings, as well as actionable data to guide improvements in clinical practice. 

The fellow will take a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative data analysis with qualitative research to examine how health systems collect and use data on racism and discrimination. The research will assess the cultural safety of healthcare services, investigating whether current health information systems adequately capture experiences of discrimination, exclusion, and inequitable treatment. 
Through a co-creation process with patients, healthcare providers, and decision-makers, the fellow will develop and validate cultural safety performance measures, including Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREMs), to assess inclusivity, accessibility, and equity in healthcare settings. The research will explore how these measures can be integrated into existing health system performance monitoring frameworks to drive real-world improvements. 
This research includes secondments for a substantial portion of the recruitment period to leading organizations in Canada, Romania, and the Netherlands, where the fellow will apply and refine measurement tools in diverse healthcare contexts. These international experiences will ensure that the research findings are actionable, adaptable, and relevant across different health systems. 
The insights gained will contribute to policy recommendations and practical interventions aimed at improving cultural safety, patient experiences, and equitable access to healthcare services. 

The Health Systems and Services Research (HSR) Group at the Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, is an internationally recognized research group dedicated to improving healthcare systems. The group specializes in Health Systems Performance, Quality of Care, Health Policy, Primary Care Development and Evaluation, Public Health, Indicator Development, and Health Information Systems. Actively engaged in international comparative studies, the group collaborates with organizations across different health systems to inform and shape evidence-based health policies. 

As a WHO/EURO Collaborating Centre, the HSR group contributes to health research and innovation. The Principal Investigator (PI) of the group is also the coordinator of HealthIntelAct and previously led the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Training Network for Health System Performance Professionals (HealthPros), the predecessor of HealthIntelAct. All fellows based in the group during HealthPros have successfully completed their PhD theses and remain affiliated with or closely collaborate with the research team, reflecting the group’s strong academic network and commitment to long-term research partnerships. 

For more information, please visit the LinkedIn profile of the Principal Investigator (PI). 

• Candidates should have a Master’s degree in public health, health services research, health policy and management, health sciences, medical informatics, sociology, anthropology, or a related field. 
• Experience with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. 
• Basic statistical knowledge and experience with data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R, 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 in international comparative studies. 
• Experience in stimulating the active use of research results in practice and policy-making. 
• Experience in engaging with diverse communities, including migrants or refugees. 
• 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 4-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 4 years with Amsterdam UMC. 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 NL)1.096 = €3.726,40 + 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 Dr. Dionne Kringos (d.s.kringos@amsterdamumc.nl). 

Amsterdam UMC is one of the largest and leading academic medical centers in the Netherlands, formed through a collaboration between VU University Medical Center and the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam. With over 17,000 employees, it provides top-tier patient care, conducts cutting-edge scientific research, and offers comprehensive education. The center also hosts the Amsterdam UMC Graduate School, where over 200 PhDs are awarded each year, and provides advanced academic training for its PhD students. 
All doctoral degrees for fellows based at the HSR Group at Amsterdam UMC will be awarded by the University of Amsterdam.