Horizon Europe Post-Doctoral Researcher

The Department of Economics, Cork University Business School (CUBS) in University College Cork (UCC) is seeking an outstanding and highly motivated researcher in economics / epidemiology with exceptional econometric skills, a proven use of secondary datasets and a knowledge of economic evaluation techniques in health systems. This is a Horizon Europe position for a project entitled “Tackling Micronutrient Malnutrition and Hidden Hunger to Improve Health in the EU”. The post will involve working with a multi-disciplinary team of economists, epidemiologists, and food scientists. The researcher will be involved in both aims of the project. These are, first, to estimate the economic burden of micronutrient deficiencies in Europe and second, to estimate the cost-effectiveness of candidate dietary strategies proposed to mitigate micronutrient deficiencies.

For the first aim, conceptual and empirical approaches to measuring and valuing economic burden will be reviewed, and an estimation strategy will be chosen and implemented.  The candidate be involved in a comprehensive review of literature and datasets, will use the Global Burden of Disease to attribute diseases to micronutrient deficiencies using a population-attributable fraction formula and thereby estimate the economic burden of micronutrient deficiencies. Differential effects across vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and older people, will also be estimated. Uncertainty will be quantified. For the second aim, candidate dietary strategies to mitigate micronutrient deficiencies, identified by food scientists and spatial modelling experts, will be costed and health outcomes will be estimated. The supervisory team includes Dr Brendan McElroy, UCC and Dr Lee-Ann Burke, UCC.

The ideal candidate will have excellent quantitative skills and a proven track record of working in a multi-disciplinary environment.  They will have a strong understanding of costing and outcome measurement as it applies to health status. They will be comfortable with learning and applying new analytical methods and proposing potential solutions to the dilemmas that occur as part of the research process.

Hidden Hunger Project Synopsis.

Micronutrient deficiencies, known as 'hidden hunger,' present a significant economic challenge globally. WHO estimate that they affect over 70% of the European population. Due to uncertainty around this percentage, true prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies will be quantified. Comprehensive economic data on micronutrient deficiencies are crucial for informed discussions on mitigation strategies. Mitigation strategies will apply across both the entire European population, and nutritionally vulnerable sub-groups affected by life stages, social inequality, exclusion or poverty.

Advert information