PhD Position Empowering Students for Change

What will you do

Healthcare is traditionally organized in a hierarchical way, with power structures that often hinder authentic interprofessional collaboration. These structures may silence diverse voices, restrict shared decision-making, and undermine the quality of patient-centered care. This PhD project aims to change that.

Within the project Empowering Students for Change, you will investigate how students can learn to navigate and transform power structures that obstruct collaboration. The project introduces two innovative concepts—Professional Resistance and Critical Pedagogy—into Interprofessional Education (IPE). In doing so, students learn to critically analyze, challenge, and achieve sustainable change in power structures. As part of this trajectory, we also offer the opportunity to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (BKO).

Your PhD trajectory will focus on:

• Investigating how students experience power structures and resistance during clinical placements.
• Mapping Professional Resistance in learning activities and exploring how it can be taught.
• Designing and evaluating IPE interventions that integrate Professional Resistance and Critical Pedagogy.
• Developing design principles and curriculum conditions for future-proof education in healthcare.
• Gaining experience in medical education.

The project makes use of Educational Design Research (EDR) and qualitative methods such as focused ethnography, interviews, reflexive thematic analysis, and co-creation with students and educators.

Working environment

You will work at the Wenckebach Institute for Education and Training (WIOO) of the UMCG, within the Lifelong Learning, Education and Assessment Research Network (LEARN). The UMCG is the largest employer in the Northern Netherlands and a leading center for research in medical education. The WIOO focuses on the professional and personal development and training of students and (future) healthcare professionals.

You can expect:

• An international, multidisciplinary research community
• Intensive collaboration with healthcare professionals, educators, and students
• Strong connections between research, educational design, and implementation
• Participation in a research group of experienced clinicians, educationalists, and (critical) researchers

The project is a collaboration between three well-known research institutes:

• LEARN – Lifelong Learning, Education and Assessment Research Network (UMCG, Groningen)
• SHE – School of Health Professions Education (Maastricht University)
• CHPE – Center for Health Professions Education (Uniformed Services University, USA)

The supervisory team consists of: Dr. Marco Versluis (daily supervisor), Prof. Dr. Marco A. de Carvalho Filho, and Dr. Tasha Wyatt. You will work closely with a second PhD candidate in Maastricht to ensure synergy between both trajectories.

What are we looking for

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Holds a Master’s degree in medical sciences (e.g. nursing or medicine), social sciences (e.g. educational sciences, psychology, sociology), or a related discipline. Candidates with another Master’s degree but strong affinity with health professions education will also be considered.
• Has knowledge of, and preferably experience with, qualitative research methods.
• Is interested in health professions education, interprofessional collaboration, and social justice in education.
• Is familiar with, or willing to engage with, critical pedagogy and professional resistance.
• Has strong communication skills and can inspire and engage stakeholders.
• Functions well independently as well as in a team.
• Speaks fluent English and Dutch.

What do we offer

• Employment conditions according to the Collective Labour Agreement for University Medical Centers (CAO-UMC).
• A temporary position of 0.8 - 1.0 FTE (28,8 - 36 hours) for four and a half years (at a fulltime position) or longer depending on the working hours.
• Initially a 1-year contract, which will be extended for the remainder of the period upon positive evaluation.
• A maximum salary of € 3.108 gross per month in the first year until € 3.939 gross per month in the fourth year, based on full-time employment.

The supervisory team can be contacted for more information:

Marco Versluis Gynaecoloog, onderzoeker

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +31(0)647520483

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. Vaccination may be required. For certain positions, a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) is required.