PhD scholarship in Healthcare Operations – Analysing and Optimising Hospital-at-Home Systems

Do you want to shape the future of healthcare in the era of digitalization with a focus on scientific research? Then we have the right opportunity for you. We are looking for a talented and ambitious PhD student to join our Hospital-at-Home (HaH) project.

The Department of Technology, Management, and Economics at Technical University of Denmark (DTU Management) invites applications for a 3-year PhD position in Healthcare Operations with a focus on Hospital-at-home. The project is starting in January 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is part of a joint research project between DTU Management and Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The PhD student will be part of the Management Science Division at DTU Management.

The PhD project aims to analyze and optimize Hospital-at-Home concepts using data-driven decision-support addressing challenges like long distances to specialist care and high no-show appointment rates. We develop methodologies for elderly care systems in rural areas by integrating primary and specialist care (coordinating between the sectors) using advanced data-driven planning. Your research will contribute to sustainable, resilient, and efficient healthcare systems. The research is expected to employ methods from Operations Research, Management Science, Data Science, and Analytics.

The core focus of the PhD project will be to develop and test planning and optimization models to analyze new and innovative Hospital-at-Home systems to improve access to healthcare for elderly and vulnerable citizens. You will be part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary research setting at one of Europe's leading technical universities. DTU is committed to innovation, societal impact, and diversity. Situated in Copenhagen, consistently ranked among the world's most livable cities, the university provides outstanding quality of life in a safe, sustainable urban environment enriched by a lively cultural scene.

Responsibilities And Qualifications
Your overall focus will be on strengthening the department's competencies in modeling and optimizing healthcare-related decision problems. You will work hand in hand with academics and healthcare professionals. As a PhD student, you will:

• Be responsible for conducting your own research project
• Contribute to new knowledge about analytics in healthcare
• Publish your work worldwide in leading recognized journals
• Develop strong collaboration skills
• Have regular (short- and long-term) visits at NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
• Contribute to the cooperation with Danish regions
• Contribute to the academic environment at the department
• Present your work at international conferences, workshops, and seminars
• Assist in teaching and co-supervise engineering students with their thesis work

The PhD scholarship is a full-time position allowing you to become a research scientist and benefit from the academic activities at the department. The yearly salary is internationally highly competitive. Department duty work (teaching) is very limited, allowing you to focus on your PhD project.

The PhD Project Will Be Jointly Supervised By Professor Allan Larsen And Professor Jens O. Brunner (DTU) And Professor Henrik Andersson And Associate Professor Anders Gulhav (NTNU), And The Candidates For The PhD Position Will Be Assessed On The Following Criteria

• Profound knowledge in Operations Research, Management Science, Analytics and Data Science
• Knowledge of and practical experiences with programming (e.g., Python, Java, Julia, etc.)

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is 3 years. The starting date is preferably 1 March 2026, or as soon as the position is filled. The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Allan Larsen ).

You can read more about DTU Management at

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar "PhD relocation to Denmark and startup "Zoom" seminar" for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than
19 December :59 Danish time)
. Applications must be submitted as
one PDF file
containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach
all your materials in English in one PDF file
. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• Short video (1-2 minutes introducing yourself)
• A research statement (1-2 pages) explaining your ideas and relevant literature.

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

Who are we?
DTU Management conducts excellent research at the intersection of management, technology and economics. We develop solutions in close cooperation with companies and public authorities. Our research aims at strengthening welfare, productivity and sustainability. A key element is the role of technology and its interaction with industry and individuals. The department offers a wide range of courses and programs at bachelor, master, and PhD levels across DTU's study programs. The department has 200+ employees with around half of staff coming from abroad.
Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.