PhD Position in Health Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Childhood Cognition
Investigate the link between pesticide exposure and cognitive development in children using advanced epidemiological and longitudinal data analysis.
Best for:Best for epidemiologists or quantitative researchers with expertise in R, longitudinal data analysis, and a strong interest in environmental health and child development.
Overview
This PhD position at Utrecht University focuses on understanding how environmental pesticide exposure impacts brain function, learning, and behavior in children. The project combines biomonitoring data of pesticide exposure with cognitive test results from children in the national OBO2 study, alongside geospatial exposure estimates linked to school performance data across the entire Dutch population. The candidate will apply mixture modelling and longitudinal analysis techniques to assess combined pesticide effects and their developmental trajectories. The work is part of a broader national research program on pesticides and health, conducted within the interdisciplinary One Health Chemical (OHC) group.
What you'll do
- Conduct advanced data analysis on biomonitoring and cognitive test data to assess pesticide exposure effects on children’s brain function and school performance.
- Apply mixture modelling techniques to evaluate combined effects of multiple pesticides on cognitive outcomes.
- Use longitudinal methods to study how pesticide exposure impacts cognitive development over time.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including other PhD students and external researchers in the OBO-2 project.
- Present research findings at conferences and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
- Contribute to the broader national research program on pesticides and health.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree in epidemiology or a related discipline (e.g., public health, biostatistics, environmental health, or related quantitative fields).
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; strong proficiency required for academic communication. Dutch language skills are preferred but not mandatory.
Instruction: English
- Proven experience with quantitative methods, including epidemiological study designs and statistical analysis.
- Solid programming skills in R for data analysis.
- Background in longitudinal data analysis and mixture modelling techniques.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Excellent written and spoken English for academic communication.
- Open to candidates with a recently completed or nearly completed Master's degree.
- No specific nationality or residency restrictions mentioned.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-25
Applicants should submit their CV, a motivation letter, and a list of academic references through the AcademicTransfer portal. Ensure your application includes evidence of your quantitative skills and research experience relevant to epidemiology and data analysis.
- CV
- Motivation letter
- List of academic references
- Proof of Master's degree (or near completion)
Contact
Anke Huss· Contact for inquiries
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