PhD candidates 'Improving Treatment of Chronic Subdural Hematoma'

We invite applications for two PhD positions within a large international research consortium dedicated to minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures. The project focuses on chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH), a highly prevalent condition in an aging population and one of the most frequently treated neurosurgical disorders.

The overall goal of this project is to optimize the safety and effectiveness of cSDH treatment through high-quality clinical research. The project consists of several complementary studies, including an international multicenter randomized clinical trial and a nationwide prospective registry.

Together, these studies will generate robust evidence to guide future clinical practice. To strengthen our research team, we are recruiting two PhD candidates who will each focus on a key component of the project while working closely together within a shared research program.

Each PhD Candidate will have a distinct primary focus:

• PhD Candidate one – clinical trial: Focus on the preparation, conduct, and analysis of an international multicenter randomized trial.
• PhD Candidate two – registry: Focus on the setup, coordination, and analysis of a nationwide chronic subdural hematoma registry.

Both candidates will contribute to protocol development, data analysis, and scientific dissemination, and will collaborate closely with each other, the postdoctoral researcher, and the principal investigators. In addition to the trial and registry, the project also includes essential methodological work on the development of a surgical simulator training module and patient‑reported outcome measures (PROMs).

These components are integral to the project and will be distributed between the two PhD candidates based on interest and expertise during the course of the PhD trajectories. The positions are offered for a duration of 4 years, culminating in a PhD thesis based on multiple peer-reviewed publications.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the scientific design and execution of studies within the cSDH project.
• Collect, manage, and analyze clinical data.
• Perform statistical analyses under supervision and in collaboration with biostatisticians.
• Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and contribute to conference presentations.
• Participate actively in team meetings and international collaborations.
• Actively contribute to a collaborative, transparent, and safe research environment.

Position-Specific Activities

Clinical Trial PhD Candidate

• Support the coordination and execution of an international multicenter trial.
• Assist with ethics approvals, regulatory documentation, and trial monitoring.
• Maintain close contact with participating centers to ensure protocol adherence and data quality.
• Perform trial-related statistical analyses and contribute to reporting of results.

Registry PhD Candidate

• Coordinate data collection with hospitals participating in the national registry.
• Support registry governance, data quality control, and database development.
• Conduct observational studies and outcome analyses using registry data.
• Contribute to registry-based methodological and clinical publications.

What we offer:

• A 4-year PhD appointment within a high-impact clinical research program.
• Supervision by an experienced, multidisciplinary research team.
• Training in clinical research methods, statistics, and scientific writing.
• Opportunities to collaborate (inter)nationally and build a strong academic network.
• Opportunities to (co-)author high-quality publications in leading journals in neurosurgery, neurotrauma, and clinical research.
• Opportunities to present work at major scientific meetings.
• A stimulating research environment with attention to well-being and professional development.