Two SNF PhD-candidate & research assistant positions in Applied Econometrics / Data Science at the Chair of Health Economics, Policy and Management (m/w/d)
Your tasks
The project is led by Dr. Justus Vogel from the School of Medicine (MED-HSG), and Prof. Dr. med. Urs Pietsch from HOCH – Cantonal Hospital of St.Gallen.
The project brings together a strong research and clinical network, including the University Hospital Zurich, the University Hospital Bern, the University Hospitals of Geneva, and HOCH – Cantonal Hospital of St.Gallen.
The project lies at the intersection of precision medicine and hospital operations and aims to develop and evaluate data-driven decision policies in hospitals using causal machine learning (CML). By leveraging large-scale clinical data (tens of thousands of patients described by thousands of features), the project seeks to develop CML models that improve patient outcomes while enhancing hospital efficiency and resource allocation.
As PhD-candidates and research assistants, you will:
- Refine, answer and test the project's research questions with quantitative, empirical methods using large sets of real-world data
- Prepare high-quality manuscripts for publication in top-tier peer-reviewed journals across medicine, operations research, and analytics
- Present your research results on international conferences
- Support the supervision of bachelor and master theses, and student assistants
- Work and communicate effectively within a diverse teams in a structured manner and work directly with the leadership team and doctors
- Enroll in a PhD-program of the University of St. Gallen; we highly recommend the GPEF program (Doctor of Philosophy in Economics and Econometrics)
Your profile
- Outstanding Master's degree in the field of (health) economics or econometrics, statistics, Machine Learning, data science, or operations research with a clear quantitative and mathematical focus with a grade point average of at least 5.0 or the equivalent for non-Swiss degrees (corresponds for instance to a 2.0 in DE and AT)
- Experience in handling large datasets is required
- Strong analytical skills are required (e.g., microeconomics, applied econometrics, causal inference, data science, machine learning, mixed-integer programming, etc.)
- You show initiative and drive your research topics independently and with high motivation
- Advanced knowledge of at least one programming language (R or python)
- High motivation to improve econometric and data science skillset
- Outstanding teamwork ability
- Result-oriented working style with a high degree of initiative, creativity, and team spirit
- High motivation and ability to work on multiple research questions at the same time
- Confident, open, constructive, and engaging communication style internally and externally
- Knowledge about European or other health systems is a plus but not required
- Experience in hospital management is a plus but not required
- Very good knowledge of English, both written and spoken; fluent in German and/ or French is a plus
Inspirational Work Environment
Executive Education
Network
Family & Career
Equal Opportunities
Fit and Healthy
Inspirational Work Environment
At the HSG, as Europe's leading business university, we operate in an entrepreneurial environment where you will meet highly qualified, ambitious experts - both regionally and internationally. For example, you benefit from a modern IT infrastructure and, in our library via HSGswisscovery, from nationwide access to the wealth of scientific information available.
Executive Education
We support internal and external executive education opportunities. Our internal executive education programme offers you a practical, dedicated and didactically mature transfer of knowledge in the form of seminars, e-learning, coaching and collegial advice. We support task-specific external training and executive education financially as well as with regard to the time required.
Network
We promote our culture of cross-functional collaboration and create space for forging valuable relationships - also with external partners. Regular exchanges and internal events help to strengthen these relationships and make them long-lasting.
Family & Career
We provide our employees with flexible work time models with a variable number of hours per week. As a family-friendly employer, we offer part-time positions, 16 weeks of maternity leave and a subsidised crèche, as well as support with childcare during the vacations.
Equal Opportunities
The University enables equal opportunities for all employees and students. This applies to degree courses and work, as well as academic careers, university management positions and the reconciliation of studies, work and private commitments. We are committed to this with various measures in the areas of teaching, research, administration and the Presidency.
Fit and Healthy
We help you stay fit and healthy. In addition to our diverse range of sports activities at the university, most of which are free of charge, and campaign weeks for corporate health management, we also offer you fruit in the workplace. In our canteen you will find a wide selection of freshly prepared meals - from vegetarian to fish dishes - at discounted prices.
Further information on working at the HSG can be found here.
For job-related questions
PostDoc/ Head of Research Group
I look forward to getting to know you and working together.
Head of Services & Marketing
I look forward to welcome you as a new team member at the School of medicine.
Your place of work
University of St.Gallen
«A place where knowledge is created» - As one of Europe's leading universities of economics and business administration, the University of St.Gallen (HSG), Switzerland, is committed to the education of over 10'000 students. The HSG is one of the largest employers in the region and provides an attractive and innovative environment for more than 3'500 researchers, educators and professional staff.
