PhD Candidate on Social Engagement in HIV Cure - Baandomein

Baandomein; Maastricht; On-site; EUR 40.000 - 60.000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Maastricht is looking for a PhD candidate to contribute to global health through research on HIV cure strategies. The ideal candidate will engage in stakeholder collaboration and present findings at international meetings. A master's in social sciences and strong networking skills are required. This role offers competitive compensation and excellent working conditions, including flexible hours.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

29 vacation days

Good pension scheme

Qualifications

• An MSc in the social sciences (e.g., global health, public health).
• Interest in HIV and social issues related to health.
• Ability to liaise with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Conduct a Delphi study on HIV cure criteria.
• Collaborate with academic and non-academic stakeholders.
• Present research findings at conferences.

Skills

Networking

Analytical thinking

Qualitative research

Quantitative research

Organizational skills

Education

MSc in social sciences

Job description

Overview

Welcome to Maastricht University! Do you want to contribute to global health by helping develop ethical and equitable HIV cure strategies? Are you passionate about social science research with real-world impact? Then this PhD position might be perfect for you.

PhD Candidate on Social Engagement in HIV Cure

Responsibilities

• Conduct a Delphi study on criteria for an acceptable HIV cure.
• Collaborate with academic and non-academic stakeholders from various fields of work, both nationally and internationally.
• Present research output at national and international conferences, in academic articles, and, ultimately, in a dissertation.
• Engage in science communication practices whereby research findings are actively conveyed to non-academic audiences.
• Provide input for the consortium’s internal monitoring and evaluation, and for periodic reports to funders.

What you will do in the project

The HIV epidemic has tremendous impact on global health and there is an urgent need to develop globally accessible curative strategies for HIV. This PhD project is part of an international, interdisciplinary consortium that brings together social scientists, biomedical researchers, clinicians, health economists, communication specialists, HIV community members, and other global stakeholders to close knowledge gaps and inform ethical and equitable cure interventions. The candidate will work with social scientists based in the Netherlands and sub-Saharan Africa (Zambia, South Africa, Uganda) to generate actionable insights for social engagement in HIV cure efforts through mixed methods research. The project includes comprehensive stakeholder analyses, followed by qualitative and quantitative research on: 1) awareness, importance, and meaning assigned to HIV cure by global stakeholders; 2) the degree to which affected populations can and should be meaningfully engaged; 3) the risk and benefit balance in HIV cure trials. The PhD candidate will be employed at Maastricht University and will also spend time at University Medical Centre Utrecht under the supervision of Dr. Kim Romijnders.

Qualifications

• An MSc in the social sciences (e.g., global health, public health, health psychology, social psychology, health promotion, anthropology, international development).
• An interest in or affinity with HIV, including previous work or volunteering in HIV or sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Ability to network and build rapport with national and international stakeholders, and to liaise with researchers at other institutes.
• Analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Qualitative and quantitative research skills, and a willingness to further develop these skills.
• Resilience and the ability to embrace challenges and pivot as needed.
• Conscientiousness and organizational skills, including time and project management.
• Willingness to travel between Maastricht University and University Medical Centre Utrecht, and to partner institutes in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Proficiency in English and, preferably, Dutch.

What we offer

As a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, you will be employed by Maastricht University, located in Maastricht. We offer:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale P according to UFO profile PhD Candidate, with salary based on experience ranging from €3,059 to €3,881 gross per month for full-time employment (38 hours/week). An 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for 12 months with a scope of 0.8-1.0 FTE. Upon positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow.
• Flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home where applicable. Monthly commuting and internet allowance. 29 vacation days plus 4 public holidays per year; up to 12 additional compensation days can be accumulated.
• Other excellent conditions, including a good pension scheme with ABP and access to university fitness and facilities.
• Opportunities for personal and professional development, including training programs and initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.

The terms of employment are set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities, with local UM provisions. For more information, see the application details.

Applying

Apply by 20 October 2025. The vacancy is open to internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We encourage you to apply for this position.