leiden university phd programmes

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When deciding what to study you undoubtedly read a lot of information about your study programme. Leiden University employs various systems to provide information about programmes and courses and to facilitate communication between lecturers and students.

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PhD Access to Medicine

Do you want to be part of a dynamic international team working on cross-disciplinary legal research to improve children’s access to medicine in Africa?

The Child Law & Health Law Department of the Institute for Private Law at Leiden Law School invite applications for a Doctorate in Law (PhD):

The Child’s Right to Access Medicine under International Human Rights Law: Responding to antimicrobial resistance - PhD Candidate, 1.0 FTE Vacancy Number: 14930

Introduction

This project explores a right to access medicine for children under international law. It interrogates the scope and content of a legal obligation to ensure access to safe, effective and quality-assured medicine formulated to children’s unique physiological and developmental needs. This project is linked to the broader global health challenge of antimicrobial resistance, focusing on children’s right to access antimicrobials in the context of treating and preventing drug-resistant childhood infections in sub-Saharan Africa.

Scientific background

Children are not little adults. They are a diverse patient group, ranging from preterm neonates to post-pubescent adolescents. Children do not metabolize medicines in the same way as adults due to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences in their physiology. The absence of child-friendly medicine and/or appropriate paediatric dosage guidelines can result in sub-optimal treatment or low-treatment adherence, which in some cases can lead to premature death in children.

Part of the complexity lies in the ethical and practical challenges surrounding paediatric clinical research, and the costs associated with developing and bringing to market paediatric formulations once drugs are approved for use in adults. Since 2007, the WHO has issued a List of Essential Medicines specific to Children and in the last decade, innovative private/public partnerships have emerged, such as the Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulation (GAP-f) to support the development of child-friendly medicines.

However, despite these developments, there remains significant lag time in the development and approval of child-friendly medicines, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In the case of neonates, it can take up to 20 years for a new drug to be tested and approved for use in neonates, leaving pediatricians the daunting task of assessing the risks and benefits of prescribing these drugs off-label.

The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in Africa and the rest of the world imposes a further urgency on the issue of child-friendly medicine. In 2019, there were an estimated 4.95 million deaths associated with drug-resistant bacterial infections worldwide. In Africa, deaths attributable to drug-resistant bacterial infections have surpassed deaths from HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. If left unchecked, antimicrobial resistance could be responsible for as many as 10 million deaths a year by 2050, costing the global economy upwards of trillions of dollars annually.

Research objectives

This project seeks to answer the following questions:

1) Is there a right to child-friendly medicine under international law? 2) What is the content and scope of states’ legal obligations to ensure access to child-friendly medicine? What obligations do non-State actors hold (such as pharmaceutical companies or private donors) in ensuring access to child-friendly medicine? 3) What avenues are available to access justice and effective remedy for a violation of a right to child-friendly medicine?

The outcomes of this project will feed into the wider global health discourse on antimicrobial resistance, drawing attention to the impact of AMR on child-populations in low- and middle-income countries. It also explores broader avenues for children’s access to justice in the context of global health, looking at national human rights institutions and strategic litigation, particularly within Africa.

Supervision of the project will be undertaken by Professor Ann Skelton, Chair of Children’s Rights in a Sustainable World , Dr Katrien Klep and Dr Sheila Varadan . The PhD-researcher will also benefit from the support and training offered through the graduate school and PhD Dean’s office.

Key Responsibilities

• Completion of a PhD thesis (through a series of publications) within four years
• Presentation of research at workshops and international conferences
• Participation in internal and external department activities and meetings, including co-organising workshops and conferences
• Publication of articles (related to and in addition to the PhD) in peer-reviewed academic journals
• Teaching and/or supervision of students in the Advanced LLM students in the Child Law and Health law department (to a maximum 10% (0.1FTE) of appointment).

Your profile

• Post-graduate degree in law with good academic standing; preference will be given to applicants with an undergraduate degree in law (J.D/LL.B);
• Demonstrated excellence in legal research and writing (e.g. scholarly legal publications, high standing in Master of Laws dissertation and/or significant experience in legal practice);
• Excellent command of English (native speaker or professional fluency) – knowledge of French and/or Dutch will be an asset;
• Demonstrated aptitude in public speaking and interpersonal communication;
• Keen interest in global health and/or health sciences;
• Highly motivated and self-driven with strong organizational skills;
• Enthusiastic about working in a dynamic and international team.

Team(s) The PhD candidate will be based at the Institute for Private Law and supervised by researchers within the Child Law and Health Law Department. The PhD candidate will also work with researchers from the Africa Studies Centre Leiden and be part of the Leiden University Network for Global Health in Africa (LUNHA).

All departments have an outstanding reputation and extensive networks in their fields. Professor Ann Skelton is a world-leading expert on children’s rights and currently the Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. This position is just one of the examples of how Leiden University fosters interdisciplinarity within its faculty to perform groundbreaking research on law and new technologies. Moreover, a good work-life balance will be important to ensure there is flexibility to combine work with other responsibilities.

Our faculty With over 6500 students and 650 members of staff, Leiden Law School is one of the largest faculties in The Netherlands. Yet, in all its diversity, it is still known for its ability to provide education on a small scale. The Faculty focuses on multi-faceted and high-level teaching and research, both nationally and internationally. It does so by working with talented people and stimulating and supporting them in their professional and personal ambitions. The Faculty is housed in the beautifully restored Kamerlingh Onnes Building on the Steenschuur in Leiden. Working for the Leiden Law School means working in an inspiring scientific environment.

We offer The position is full-time for one year initially. After receiving a positive evaluation on the progress of the PhD, and personal capabilities and compatibility, the appointment will be extended for a further three years. The salary range is from € 2770 to € 3539 gross per month (pay scale P in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). As a result of the current Collective Labour Agreement negotiations the salary will very likely be increased considerably in the near future.

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses, we have set up a dual career programme and visa support for dependents is provided. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions .

Diversity and Inclusion Diversity and inclusion are core values of Leiden University. Leiden University is committed to becoming an inclusive community which enables all students and staff to feel valued and respected and to develop their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High quality teaching and research is inclusive.

We welcome and encourage applicants from Africa.

Information Enquiries specific to this opportunity can be made to Assistant Professor Sheila Varadan at [email protected] .

Information about Leiden Law School can be found at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/law and about Leiden University at https://www.leiden.edu .

Information on the advanced research qualification and research programmes of the Graduate School of Legal Studies can be found on: https://law.leiden.edu/research-leiden-law-school/graduate-school-of-legal-studies.html

Applications Applications for this vacancy can only be made through our applications portal.

Applications must be submitted in English and should include the following:

• Cover Letter (maximum one (1) page)
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae (up to five (5) pages)
• Sample of Written Work (e.g. published article or submitted LLM thesis)
• Official copies of transcripts from all post-secondary studies (issued from institution in PDF form)
• Name and contact information (email address and phone number) of three references (at least one academic and one recent professional reference).

Applications should be submitted no later than 15 July 2024 via the blue button in the applications portal. Please quote the vacancy number in your application. All requested documents should be sent in PDF format.

Short-listed candidate will be contacted for an interview during the third week of August 2024.

Acquisition following this advertisement is not appreciated

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PhD Regulations Leiden University

The PhD Regulations are established by the Doctorate Board. The regulations set out who is eligible to be a PhD candidate, what the tasks of the supervisor and co-supervisor are and which criteria the dissertation has to meet.

2023 PhD Regulations 

The  2023 PhD Regulations  became effective on 14 September 2023.

2021 PhD Regulations 

The Leiden University PhD Regulations 2021  will then be withdrawn. As of 14 September 2023, the 2023 PhD Regulations of Leiden University will apply to all doctorates for which the manuscript has not yet been approved by the supervisor at that time. IAny exemptions are granted by the dean on behalf of the Doctoral Examination Board.

Overview of PhD Procedure 

It is important that the dean and the Graduate School of the faculty where the PhD research takes place and the beadle of the University have all the information needed for the PhD procedure. A number of appendices to the PhD Regulations are therefore available that should be submitted at the points in time described in the  Overview of PhD Procedure .    

Appendices/Forms 

• Appendix A  Request for exemption from the educational requirements relating to admission to the PhD programme.
• Appendix B  Licensing agreement for the inclusion of the dissertation in the Leiden University Institutional Repository.
• Appendix C  Letter from the dean to the PhD candidate regarding admission to the defence of the dissertation.
• Appendix D  Cum laude regulations.
• Appendix E   Ius Promovendi for senior lecturers (UHDs)
• Request for Ius Promovendi
• Jurisprudence and explanations PhD Regulations 2023
• Most important PhD regulations changes
• PhD Regulations 2023
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Statistics and Data Science

The master programme Statistics and Data Science is organised jointly by groups at different institutes and universities:

Mathematical Institute, Leiden University

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University

Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center

Biometris – Applied Statistics, Wageningen University and Research centre

Together these institutes have expertise in a wide area of statistics and data science both practical and theoretical. Many of the scientific staff members are involved in other educational tasks, conduct research on methods, participate in multi disciplinary research projects and perform consultations.

The Statistics and Data Science programme provides students with a thorough introduction to the general philosophy and methodology of statistical modelling and data analysis, with a focus on applications in the life and behavioral sciences. It is open to students with a variety of backgrounds, both in the applied domains (e.g. psychology, biology, medicine), and in quantitative domains like mathematics and statistics. It aims to educate multidisciplinary researchers and professionals that can combine theory and application. Students also gain knowledge of methods and research designs as used in a broad range of empirical research, and practical skills such as statistical programming, statistical consultation, and written and oral communication of research results.

The nominal duration of the programme will be two years (120 ECTS). The study time may be substantially reduced for students with particular prior knowledge.

Statistics and Data Science graduates’ skills and competences

The Statistics and Data Science programme provides the students with a thorough knowledge of

Statistical and data science methods and research designs as used in a broad range of empirical research

Practical skills such as programming, consultation, and written and oral communication of research results.

The graduates will be able to carry out research in the field of quantitative methods for the medical and life sciences and/or the behavioural sciences. They will be able to advise substantive researchers on methodological and statistical issues, and many of them will be expected to continue in a PhD programme. Whether more attracted to the medical or to the behavioural direction, the successful student will gain a thorough understanding of statistical models, their implementation and their interpretation, and develop the ability to invent new models and techniques when needed. Graduates will thus qualify for jobs in a wide range of areas, such as academic medical hospitals, many types of industry (pharmaceutical, agricultural, food, life science in general, oil, etc.), research institutes, financial institutions, government statistics bureaus, educational services (CITO), marketing bureaus. In view of the emphasis on statistics and datra science as a science, rather than as merely a collection of techniques, many graduates will qualify for a PhD programme as well.

Career Perspectives

Career Orientation During the Master Statistics & Data Science we want to provide you with the best possible preparation for the job market. In addition to knowledge, it is important that you develop skills, gain practical experience, orientate on positions & careers, and reflect on your own profile and development. In addition to substantive knowledge, it is also important to be aware of the so-called transferable skills that you develop outside and during your education. These are, for example, your cognitive skills such as critical thinking and communication. Altogether, this contributes to your development as a professional and offers good preparation for the labour market.

In the first semester, the compulsory course Statistics and Data Science in Practice will introduce you to important areas of application of statistical and data science methods in different subfields of the Life and Behavioural Sciences. This will help you planning the rest of your study and specialize in a field of application or research interest.

Collaborating with non-statisticians and non-data scientists is an essential part of an applied statistician/data scientist’s life, whether working in academia, government or industry. In the course Statistical Consulting you will acquire the necessary transferable skills for this. The interaction with substantive researchers in different application fields and real world problems from different areas will provide you with an overview of applications of statistics and data science in different fields and may help you in deciding in which direction you would like to proceed your career after finishing the master programme.

One of the aims of the Thesis Project in the fourth semester is to gain experience as a working statistician/data scientist in a possible future working environment. You need to participate in some of the day to day activities of the working place/ institute/department where the thesis project is carried out. Furthermore the monthly mandatory working groups during the thesis project enable you to exchange experiences with other students and to obtain a broader view of possible future working places.

Nevertheless, career-related questions may arise during your studies, such as: How can you use the knowledge and skills you gain within and outside your study program in the labor market? Which direction do you choose within your study and why? What are you already able to do, and what skills do you still want to learn? How do you translate the courses you choose into something you would like to do later?

You may have already discussed this with the study advisor, mentor, tutor, the Science Career Service, fellow students or made use of the Leiden University Career Zone. All kinds of activities are organized where you get the chance to orientate yourself on the job market and gives opportunities to reflect on your own development, possibilities and (study) career profile as well. Central to this are the questions: "What are my capabilities?", "What do I want?" and "How do I achieve my goals?".

In the prospectus, learning objectives have been formulated for each subject, the purpose of which is to inform you which components are covered in the development of your (study) career profile and preparation for the labour market. Various activities are also organized that help you in making all kinds of career choices and to develop skills. An overview of activities is shown below.

Bio Science Park Excursion and Science Career Event

Career events via the study association De Leidsche Flesch

Workshops and Career Colleges Science Career Service

Science Career Service Science Career Service , one of the utilities of the Science faculty, offers information and advice on study (re)orientation, career planning and personal professional profile as well as preparation for the job market, such as job applications. Facilities provided to students include online information, walk-in consultations, workshops and individual counselling sessions. In addition, Science Career Service offers expertise and support to programmes that want to strengthen the connection between their curriculum and the job market. This can vary from providing specific guest lectures/workshops to advising on integrating career orientation programmes into the curriculum.

LU Career Zone The Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career planning. You will find advice, information, video recordings of webinars and tools such as professional tests to get an idea of your personal profile. You can also explore positions and sectors, you will find tips about CV, job application, LinkedIn and there is a vacancy platform that you can make use of.

Mentornetwerk Leiden University likes to prepare students and young alumni well for the job market. For this we use the knowledge and experience of Leiden alumni. To bring students and young alumni with questions about their careers into contact with experienced alumni, Leiden University has established the Mentor Network . Students and young alumni can register for free.

Contact Do you have questions about your (study) career choices and has the above information not been able to help you further? Please contact your study advisor via [email protected].

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PhD candidates

Leiden University strives to accommodate young talent, which is why it does its best to create an inspiring environment for PhD candidates. With the University Training Programme for PhDs, we offer a degree programme that is both complete and challenging.

A PhD path is a combination of research and personal development. The University Training Programme for PhDs helps doctoral students further hone the skills and abilities they need. The programme is aimed at developing both personal skills and research skills. It also provides the option of taking career courses.

This programme is offered by the faculty graduate schools and HRM Learning and Development . Part of the programme is compulsory, while you can choose how to complete the remaining portion based on your individual needs. You can get an idea about what the programme at your institute is like by looking at your own graduate school .

Psychologist PhD candidates

At the university, there's a psychologist who specialises in issues that are relevant to PhD candidates. The PhD psychologist has expertise in short-term treatment of anxiety issues, mood complaints, concentration and motivation problems, fear of failure and more.   In case of acute mental stress, you can consult the PhD psychologist and/or your GP directly. They provide the first line of care and can refer you to more specialised help if necessary.

Online learning environment for PhDs and postdocs

As a PhD candidate or Postdoc, you can enter a HRM Learning & Development training course. You can register via the online learning environment, which you can find via  the Service portal  or via the registration link on the training pages. In this online environment, you have access to an overview of all HRM Learning & Development training courses for young researchers, your training history, your certificates and more.

Do you have questions about the online learning environment? On the web page  Courses offered - Leiden University , you will find Quickguides to guide you through the most important functions. Is your issue not listed here? In this case, you can contact  HRM Learning & Development .

Introduction PhD candidates

A good starting point if you are looking for more information is the "Introduction Leiden University PhD's". In this online module we have summarised the most important information for your PhD track.

Courses PhD candidates

Look at our courses for PhD candidates

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