The DISTINCT (Dementia: Intersectorial Strategy for Training and Innovation Network for Current Technology) network comprises of ten world-leading research organisations plus IDES, an enterprise for technology, research and care, as well as nine partner organisations including Alzheimer Europe, Alzheimer’s Disease International, the World Occupational Therapists Federation, two other major universities and three other enterprises. DISTINCT works with INTERDEM (Early detection and timely INTERvention in DEMentia), a large international collaboration enabling training and development opportunities for all grades of researcher from PhD students to senior academics to develop capacity for future research in dementia care.

The overarching research goal of the DISTINCT project is to improve of the usability of technology in dementia care by evaluating its effectiveness and implementation issues in relation to social health. A total of 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) will be hosted across the network and will work in research, a network-wide training program, public engagement activities and collaboration with network partners through short-term secondments in European industrial/academic partner laboratories. Details of all DISTINCT ESR projects can be found at: www.dementiadistinct.com

Candidates will be required to meet the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Early Stage Researcher eligibility criteria: (http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/). In particular, at the time of appointment candidates must have had less than four years full-time equivalent research experience and must not have already obtained a PhD. Additionally, they must not have resided in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the appointment. During registration candidates are asked to submit an updated copy of their Curriculum Vitae (max. two A4 pages), a motivation letter for the post (max. one A4 page), and if available, proof of English language requirement (IELTS: minimum overall score 7.0, and minimum of 6.0 in each subset). Preferably, the candidate is able to communicate in Dutch.

Fixed-term contract: for 4 years.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

The post benefits from a highly competitive and attractive salary, plus mobility and family allowances as applicable according to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN regulations. A fourth year will be covered by Maastricht University to ensure that a PhD thesis can be finalised.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 18,000 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.