Mathematical modeller infectious diseases

Werkenbijdeoverheid; Bilthoven; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

RIVM’s Department for Infectious Disease Modelling within the Center for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance (EPI) seeks a scientist to model the spread of sexually transmitted infections using advanced mathematical and statistical methods. You will work on national health policy impact and collaborate with international partners.

The role emphasizes publication in peer‑reviewed journals, multidisciplinary teamwork, and a hybrid work arrangement between home and office in the

Qualifications

• PhD in a quantitative or life sciences field.
• Peer‑reviewed publications in infectious disease modeling.
• Proficiency in modern statistics and programming languages, preferably R.

Responsibilities

• Use mathematical, statistical, and computational models to study the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
• Analyze sexual behavior data to map networks within target populations.
• Develop and run models to trace infection dynamics and evaluate control measures.
• Publish methodological advances and findings in peer‑reviewed journals and collaborate across disciplines.

Skills

Infectious disease modeling

R programming

Statistical methods

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in quantitative or life sciences

Tools

R

Job description

Mathematical modeller infectious diseases

Transform your infectious disease modeling expertise into direct public health impact. Your mathematical models and statistical analyses will inform national health policy, intervention strategies, and outbreak responses for sexually transmitted infections in the Netherlands—working in one of Europe's leading infectious disease research teams with access to world-class surveillance and research data.

What are you going to do

As a scientist specializing in infectious disease modeling, you will use mathematical, statistical, and computational models to study the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, mpox, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and hepatitis A, B, and C. You will analyze sexual behavior data to map relevant networks within specific target populations. With your expertise you support national public health in the Netherlands, working from the RIVM department of Infectious Disease Modelling.

Using these insights, you will develop and run models to trace infection dynamics and evaluate the impact of control measures. Your work will assess interventions such as treatment, vaccination, partner notification, and educational campaigns, both for the general population and for higher-risk groups. By testing these models against epidemiological data and field observations, you will provide a quantitative foundation for calculating the costs and benefits of public health actions.

You will publish your methodological advances and findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals. While rooted in the RIVM team, you will collaborate regularly across disciplines with epidemiologists, microbiologists, health economists, social scientists, and policy makers. Working in an internationally recognized team with English as the primary language, you will have access to high-quality surveillance and research data, directly informing Dutch national health policy.

The team and department

You will join the Department for Infectious Disease Modelling within the Center for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance (EPI). The team brings together eight senior researchers, a postdoc, four PhD students, a software engineer, and a project manager from five countries, with English as the working language. The group collaborates regularly with external partners, including Imperial College London, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the University of Hong Kong.

We combine flexible working hours with a balanced split between working from home and at the office. Our team thrives on a supportive, respectful culture, united by a shared passion for our research and its impact on society. As a leading team in our field, we take pride in our work and the responsibilities that come with it.

Center EPI is part of RIVM, an organization of nearly three thousand colleagues dedicated to public health, safety, and sustainability. Within EPI, researchers gather surveillance data to track disease trends, investigate outbreaks, and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of control measures. This work covers areas such as the National Immunization Program, sexually transmitted infections, healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance, respiratory diseases, enteral and vector-borne infections, and zoonotic diseases. Supported by expertise in biostatistics, surveillance methodology, and mathematical modeling, these findings guide policy decisions and intervention advice for bodies like the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), the Health Council, and Municipal Public Health Services (GGD).

Who are you

• A PhD in a quantitative or life sciences field, such as physics, applied mathematics, computer science, mathematical biology, bioinformatics, or infectious disease epidemiology.
• Practical experience in infectious disease modeling, preferably focused on sexually transmitted infections, alongside a demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications that showcase your ability to generate meaningful scientific insights.
• Proficiency in modern statistical methods and programming languages, preferably R, allowing you to effectively clean, analyze, visualize, and model complex population-level data.
• An adaptable and solution-oriented mindset that enables you to respond thoughtfully to shifting priorities and emerging data in a fast-paced research environment.
• Professional fluency in spoken and written English, ensuring you can clearly communicate technical findings, author research papers, and present results to international audiences.
• A collaborative approach to teamwork that allows you to build effective working relationships within a multidisciplinary, international group of researchers, economists, and policy advisors.

This position is linked to a number of research projects that will run for at least one year. There is a possibility that this engagement will continue. Consequently, the RIVM is keen to connect with candidates interested in a long-term commitment to the organization. However, the RIVM cannot currently provide a guarantee in this regard. You will, of course, be informed in good time about whether or not your employment contract can be extended.

Over RIVM