Pursue a PhD alongside your professional role: Information for prospective PhD candidates and their employers

Pursue a PhD while working in (regional) healthcare, public health, or another professional setting

A PhD does not necessarily require full-time employment at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). Professionals working in (regional) hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental healthcare organizations, elderly care, primary care, public health services, industry, government, or other organizations, can combine their professional role with a doctoral research trajectory.

We actively welcome motivated (regional) professionals who wish to develop research skills, contribute to scientific knowledge, and address challenges that arise directly from their professional practice. By combining academic research with their professional role, candidates can help turn practical challenges into new knowledge and innovation.

For prospective PhD candidates

A part-time or externally funded PhD trajectory offers the opportunity to:

• Conduct research alongside your current professional position.

• Build expertise in a topic that is relevant to your daily practice.

• Strengthen your analytical and scientific skills.

• Follow PhD courses tailored to professionals.

• Expand your professional and research network within academia.

• Access a variety of research support facilities that can assist you throughout your PhD, from methodological and statistical advice to data management, grant writing, and more.

Depending on the project and funding arrangements, candidates may be employed by their own organization while being supervised by researchers and professors affiliated with the UMCG.

For healthcare and (regional) partner organizations

Investing in a PhD candidate can create substantial value for your organization. A doctoral trajectory can help to:

• Address practice-based questions through scientific research.

• Strengthen evidence-based practice and innovation capacity.

• Foster knowledge exchange between academia and organizations.

• Increase the impact of your organization by connecting research, practice, and innovation.

Advice on Intellectual Property (IP), authorship, and data sharing, including ownership of research results, publication agreements, and collaboration with external partners is also available.

Interested?

If you are interested in combining a PhD with your professional role, or if your organization would like to explore the opportunities a doctoral trajectory can offer, we would be happy to discuss the possibilities. Together, we can explore potential research topics and supervision options.

Please get in contact via Dr. Corinna Glasner (gsms umcg.nl).