PhD Candidate: Sleep, Circadian Rhythms & Women’s Health at Work

Job description

Shift work is an essential part of our modern 24-hour society. However, working at night is associated with an increased risk of sleep disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes. In the Netherlands, it is estimated that around 1.3 million people work night shifts occasionally or regularly, highlighting the importance of this public health issue.

This research project will focus on the impact of night work and irregular working hours on sleep, health biomarkers, and women's health. In addition to the specific target group of night workers, we also investigate the unique challenges faced by working women in general, such as (pre)menopause, and the influence of these factors on sleep, work productivity, and labor force participation. Therefore, as a PHD student you will be involved in multiple research projects. You will play a key role in the SHIFT2HEALTH EU Project where you will execute and evaluate a combined lifestyle intervention for shift workers in the healthcare and industrial sector. In this position, you will collaborate closely with our current Shift2Health PhD candidate, as well as with Wageningen University & Research and other European partners. In addition, you will be involved in an interdisciplinary Women’s Health research project and have the ability to work with existing data throughout cohort studies.

This will allow you to gain experience with a broad range of quantitative research methods, applied to a highly relevant societal challenge, potentially resulting in significant health impact.

Work environment

A healthy population and excellence in healthcare through research and education. This is what Erasmus MC stands for. Conducting groundbreaking work. Pushing boundaries and leading the way. In research, education, and healthcare. We are practical people with a high level of expertise, working hard to improve and renew the healthcare of today and the public health of tomorrow.

At the Department of Public Health, we are dedicated to improve population health at local, national, and international level through excellent research and education. Our research is characterised as highly multidisciplinary and is focused on the development and use of innovative methods. Collaboration with and direct impact on practice and policy are at the heart of our work.

You will become a PhD candidate within the research line 'Sleep and Circadian Science for Occupational Health' under the supervision of assistant professor Heidi Lammers-van der Holst. Her research team studies interventions to promote sustainable health and employability of shift workers; and identify and validate biomarkers to quantitatively assess shift work-related circadian health and sleep disturbances.

Qualifications and skills

The position is offered to (research) MSc graduates in Health Sciences, Psychology, Epidemiology, Public Health, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field. Key skills that the candidate will be developing and working with are: quantitative analysis, including integrated data-analysis, design and execution of human volunteer studies in occupational settings, collection and analysis of continuous data (such as collected through wearables), and scientific communication (oral and written). The department highly supports candidates who want to further develop their skills in multidisciplinary collaboration, goal-oriented working, independency, and engagement.

Your qualifications:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Dutch and English. For this position your command of the Dutch and English language is expected to be at C1 level.
• You have a teamwork mentality: you enjoy collaborating to conduct social-scientific research in a multidisciplinary team and develop high-quality research outputs.
• As a PhD, you are asked to complete the Master of Science program at Netherlands institute for Health Science (NIHES) during your appointment time.
• Experience in blood sampling is appreciated.

As a clinical researcher, you are required to complete the Basic course on Regulations and Organisation for clinical investigators (BROK) during your appointment time.

Before you apply please check our conditions for employment.

Terms of employment

• You will receive a temporary position for 4 years.
• The gross monthly salary is € 3.017,- in the 1st year and gradually increases to € 3.824,- in the 4th year (scale OIO).
• A salary increase of 3% from July 2025, according to the collective labor agreement (cao).
• Excellent fringe benefits, such as a 13th month that is already paid out in November and an individual travel expense package.
• An International Office which aids you in preparing for you arrival and stay.
• Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 2/3 of the monthly contribution.
• Special benefits, such as an incompany physiotherapist and bicycle repairer. And there is also a gym where you can work on your fitness after work.

More information

For more information about this position, please contact Heidi Lammers-van der Holst, assistant professor via phone number +31 10 704 53 71.





If you are excited by the thought of this position and would like to apply, please do so by using the application form on our website.

No agencies please.