PhD Scholarship in Mathematical Modeling for Health Policy

Are you interested in research in cutting edge modeling techniques addressing urgent questions in health? Are you interested in quantitative methods that can be applied to relevant policy questions? 

This position involves a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of policy relevant questions and mathematical modeling methods to answer some of the following questions: How can we develop multi-disease models to quantify overall health outcomes? What interventions in and out of the healthcare system improve outcomes for multiple diseases?

The Department of Technology, Management and Economics at Technical University of Denmark invites applications for a 3-year PhD position in disease modeling and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis starting in February 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. The PhD student will be part of the Management Science Division and affiliated with the Operations & Supply Chain Management Section.

The project will include:

• Developing multiple models for cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and stroke and integrating them into one model 
• Estimating the health effects and costs of non-healthcare interventions that prevent metabolic disease over the next 20 years in Denmark
• Conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis
• Develop methods to improve modeling of multiple diseases

Copenhagen — ranked the world's most livable city — offers a safe, sustainable urban environment, a rich cultural scene, and an enviable work-life balance. As part of DTU Management, you'll combine this quality of life with a dynamic, interdisciplinary research setting at one of Europe's leading technical universities."

Responsibilities and qualifications
You will work with academics and healthcare professionals to develop modelling methods to improve health policy modeling and assessment. As a PhD student, you will: 

• Be responsible for conducting your own research project
• Contribute to new knowledge about health policy modeling
• Strive to publish your work worldwide in recognised journals
• Collaborate with researchers from the Management Science Division
• Present your work at international conferences and seminars
• Assist in teaching and co-supervise engineering students with their thesis work
• Take classes equivalent to 30 ECTS over the PhD project period

The PhD scholarship is a full-time position allowing you to become a research scientist and benefit from the academic activities at the department. The yearly salary is internationally highly competitive. Department duty work (teaching) is very limited, allowing you to focus on your PhD project. 

The PhD project will be supervised by Assistant Professor Anneke Claypool and co-supervised by Professor Martin Utley and the candidates for the PhD position will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Profound knowledge in Operations Research and Management Science and/or disease modeling
• Knowledge in and practical experiences with programming (e.g., Python, Java, Julia, R, etc.)
• Knowledge in healthcare operations management, health policy modeling, cost-effectiveness analysis, health economic assessment, and related fields

We seek to recruit a PhD student with experience in simulation modeling, an interest in health policy, and a background in management science, operations research, computer science, applied mathematics, quantitative health policy, epidemiology, or a related field.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education. 

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures.

The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained by contacting Assistant Professor Anneke Claypool, e-mail: alacl@dtu.dk. 

You can read more about DTU Management at www.man.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 6 November 2026 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A 1-page research statement describing how you would formulate a research project based on the given information

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

Who are we?
DTU Management conducts excellent research in the intersection between management, technology and economics. We develop solutions in close cooperation with companies and public authorities. Our research aims at strengthening welfare, productivity and sustainability within society. A key element is the role of technology and its interaction with industry and individuals. The department offers a wide range of courses and programs at bachelor, master and PhD level across DTU’s study programs. The department has around 200 employees, approximately 50% coming from abroad. In the Management Science Division, the research ranges from mathematical-based optimization models to process-oriented management models and is used in basically every sector, such as transport, energy infrastructure, the education sector, as well as the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.