Master's thesis worker for interdisciplinary research on healthcare cost-effectiveness

The Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at Aalto University is looking for a motivated Master’s thesis worker for interdisciplinary research on healthcare cost-effectiveness.

The thesis is connected to research examining the costs, benefits and effectiveness of dialysis treatment using register data. The aim of the work is to support the development of a national cost-benefit model and to produce knowledge for developing a value-based dialysis system.

Your role

As a Master’s thesis worker, you will participate in register-based research analysing the costs, benefits and effectiveness of dialysis treatment at the national level. Your work will support cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness evaluation and produce information to support decision-making in the development of the healthcare service system.

In this role, you will contribute in particular to data queries, data processing, building the analysis dataset, statistical modelling and reporting of results. Based on this work, you will write your Master’s thesis in English. The results may be further developed into scientific publications together with the research group.

Your tasks will include:

• conducting database queries on register data
• processing pseudonymised research data in a secure secondary-use environment
• cleaning, combining and organising data into analysis-ready datasets
• carrying out statistical analyses and modelling using the R programming language
• conducting cost, benefit and effectiveness analyses under the guidance of the research group’s experts
• writing your Master’s thesis in English on the research topic
• participating in the research group’s project meetings

The research data consists of register data from various sources, combined and pseudonymised by Findata. The data will be processed and analysed using statistical methods in HUS’s Acamedic secondary-use environment, in accordance with the research permit, data security requirements and research ethics principles.

Research topic

The need for dialysis treatment is increasing as the population ages and chronic diseases become more common. In Finland, more comprehensive information is needed on how the costs and benefits of different dialysis treatment modalities are formed at the national level, and how the dialysis system can be developed on a value-based basis.

The research will examine:

• the cost-effectiveness of different dialysis treatment modalities
• structures and operating models of the healthcare service system
• the role of digital solutions in supporting scalability and effectiveness

The more specific research question for the Master’s thesis will be defined together with the selected student, the thesis supervisors and the experts in the research group.

What we expect from you

The position is primarily suited for a student of Industrial Engineering and Management or Information Networks at Aalto University. However, the call is open to all Aalto master’s-level students who have suitable skills and the capacity to complete a Master’s thesis on the topic.

We are looking for a student with an interest in data analysis, healthcare development and socially impactful research. A suitable background may be, for example, in industrial engineering and management, computer science, data analytics, bioinformation technology, systems sciences, statistics, economics or another field of study relevant to the position.

We expect applicants to have:

• sufficient SQL skills for performing database queries and processing data
• readiness to clean, transform and organise data into analysis datasets
• understanding of statistical analysis and modelling using the R programming language
• understanding of the basics of economics
• interest in healthcare and healthcare development
• good English skills, as the Master’s thesis will be written in English
• good Finnish skills, as the work involves Finnish-language data descriptions and documentation and takes place partly in a Finnish-speaking research environment
• the ability to work independently, carefully and confidentially
• willingness to learn new things, participate in project meetings and work as part of an interdisciplinary research group

We consider the following an advantage:

• experience in handling register data, databases or large datasets, especially experience with sensitive data or secure research environments
• knowledge of health economics or cost-effectiveness evaluation
• familiarity with the healthcare operating environment through, for example, courses, projects or work experience

The necessary subject-matter expertise can be learned during the work with the support of the research group.

What we offer

We offer the opportunity to complete a Master’s thesis in a socially significant interdisciplinary research environment. You will work on important research questions related to healthcare effectiveness, register data and decision-making.

The position provides a strong foundation for, for example, doctoral research, expert roles in data analytics, roles in health economics, or positions related to healthcare development.

Employment relationship and schedule

The position is a fixed-term Master’s thesis worker position. The desired starting date is in November–December 2026.

The Master’s thesis is typically completed in approximately six months. If needed, the schedule can be agreed flexibly, provided that the thesis is completed by August 2027 at the latest.

The work will be carried out at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at Aalto University. The workplace is located on Aalto University’s Otaniemi campus in Espoo. Register data will be processed in a secure secondary-use environment in accordance with the research permit.

Salary will be determined in accordance with Aalto University’s salary system and practices.

Interested?

If you are excited about the position and would like to join us, please submit your application through our recruitment system no later than 4 October 2026 at 23:59 EET.

Applicants may be interviewed already during the application period. Please note that we do not accept applications submitted by email.

Please attach to your application:

• CV
• motivation letter
• transcript of records
• an optional work sample, GitHub link, course project or other demonstration of analytics, SQL or R skills, if available

In your motivation letter, please describe in particular:

• why you are interested in this Master’s thesis topic
• what experience you have in data processing, SQL, R or statistical analysis
• what kind of interest you have in healthcare, economics or effectiveness evaluation
• when you would be able to start the thesis work

Current employees of Aalto University should apply for the position using their employee profile in Workday under Internal Jobs / Sisäiset työpaikat. Aalto students or visitors should apply through the external Open Positions page using their personal email address, not an aalto.fi address.

Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period or reopen the application process.

For further information about the position, please contact:

Henni Tenhunen

Doctoral Researcher, Contact Person for Register-Based Research
Aalto University, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management
Email: henni.tenhunen@aalto.fi
Phone: 050 463 2977

For questions related to the application process, please contact HR Partner Hanna Koli by email at hanna.koli@aalto.fi.

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