Fellow 9 (project 2.9)

This project will contribute to the development of actionable research to address health and environmental challenges, emphasising the role of individuals in fostering climate-resilient systems. By promoting health-enhancing and sustainable behaviours, the research aims to align personal actions, healthcare practices, and policy frameworks with goals for planetary and human health. Leveraging a multidisciplinary and one-health approach, the fellow will evaluate the environmental and societal benefits of these behaviours, investigate effective policies, and propose governance indicators to monitor progress. 

The fellow will focus on several research areas, including mapping and monitoring the societal benefits of health-promoting and sustainable behaviors, evaluating policies for alignment with health and sustainability goals, and identifying successful strategies through field experiments. These field experiments will be co-created with communities, policymakers, and healthcare providers to ensure inclusive development and maximize their real-world applicability. 
Through a co-creation process, the fellow will work closely with stakeholders to identify successful strategies that drive innovation in the planning and delivery of sustainable health services. The research will emphasize collaborative engagement with affected communities to ensure that interventions are culturally appropriate, equitable, and scalable. 
The fellow will also assist policymakers in designing inclusive policies that promote healthy and sustainable behaviors, ensuring that governance frameworks reflect the needs and perspectives of diverse populations. Additionally, the fellow will define governance indicators that include the environmental impact of healthcare activities, enabling the tracking of policy effectiveness and long-term sustainability outcomes.

The fellow will join the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Health Science at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, a leading institution dedicated to research on health equity, quality of care, and sustainability. The center brings together experts from various fields, including medicine, bioengineering, computer science, economics, social sciences, and law, fostering a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment. 
The research team has extensive experience in developing innovative healthcare models and has been actively involved in national and international projects aimed at improving access to high-quality care. This includes leading initiatives such as the Proximity Care Project in Tuscany and the EU-funded Tuscany Health Ecosystem (THE), which focus on technological and managerial innovations for underserved populations. Additionally, members of the team were involved in HealthIntelAct’s predecessor, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Training Network for Health System Performance Professionals (HealthPros), further strengthening their expertise in health system performance assessment and policy-driven research. 
Collaboration with policymakers, healthcare providers, and local communities is at the core of the team’s approach, ensuring that research outcomes are not only scientifically rigorous but also relevant and actionable. By joining this team, the fellow will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge health services research, working with a diverse network of experts and stakeholders committed to improving healthcare accessibility and equity. 
For more information about the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Health Science at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, visit: 
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies – Health Science 

• Master’s degree in management, public health, health sciences, environmental science, health economics, applied statistics, engineering, behavioral science, or a related field. 
• Experience with/Interest for quantitative and/or qualitative research methods applied to health or social science field. 
• A basic understanding of policy evaluation and governance, with a strong interest in supporting the design of more sustainable health service. This includes collaborating with health and management professionals and other relevant stakeholders, as well as with third-sector organisations and local actors to ensure the long-term impact of such initiatives. 
• Strong interpersonal, analytical and problem-solving skills. 
• Excellent higher education track record and scientific curiosity. 
• Fluent spoken and written English skills. 

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

• Experience in longitudinal panel research or field experiments. 
• Experience in data protection procedures and ethical research practices. 
• Experience in interdisciplinary research settings. 
• Experience in studying European healthcare systems, particularly in the context of health system performance assessment 
• Ability to speak Italian or willingness to learn. 

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 Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) programme offers an attractive salary and working conditions. 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 IT) 0.974 = €3.311,6 + 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 Prof. Sabina Nuti (email: sabina.nuti@santannapisa.it).  

Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSA) is a public university institute – with special autonomy – working in the field of applied sciences: Economics and Management, Law, Political Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Plant Biotechnology, Medicine, and Industrial and Information Engineering, Data Science.  
SSSA is an internationally recognized institution dedicated to excellence in research and education. Its interdisciplinary research spans health systems, sustainability, and policy innovation, fostering impactful contributions to global challenges.  
All doctoral degrees for fellows based at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies will be awarded by the same institution.