The department of Neonatology of the Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+) and the laboratory of Pediatrics of Maastricht University (UM) have received a grant from the Dutch Brain Foundation to study ‘Optimal timing of cell therapy for cerebral palsy after perinatal asphyxia’. The PhD position is funded by this grant and a matching fund from the Center of Integrative Neuroscience of Maastricht University.

We are looking for a talented PhD candidate who will use advanced multiscale neuroimaging to longitudinally test the efficacy of cell therapy in combination with therapeutic hypothermia in a preclinical sheep model of perinatal asphyxia.

Our team offers you an exciting learning environment in the fields of translational neonatology and multiscale neuroimaging. The supervising team consists of dr. Reint Jellema (pediatrician-neonatologist in Maastricht UMC+), dr. Tim Wolfs (head of the laboratory of Pediatrics of Maastricht University), prof. dr. Alard Roebroeck (head of Computational Brain Connectivity lab (CBClab) of Maastricht University).

The PhD candidate will be responsible for:

• Contribution to the full project plan (under supervision);
• Providing hands-on support in sheep research;
• Acquisition, postprocessing and analyzing longitudinal MRI data;
• Prepare progress reports, write academic publications (under supervision);
• Present research outcomes at national and international conferences;
• Active contribution to other research activities within the larger research group;
• Setting up and/or maintaining (inter-) national collaborations within the field;
• Keeping up with the relevant scientific literature within the field of study;
• Supervision of research assistants, biotechnicians and students, where appropriate;
• Completing a PhD thesis in 4 years.

Candidates should hold a Master degree (MSc) in Biomedical Engineering, Technical Medicine or Biomedical Science or a related (bio-)medical engineering MSc with a strong image acquisition and analysis component. There is a preference towards candidates holding a technical degree and a trackrecord in MRI neuroimaging. The preferred candidate is a team player with excellent collaboration and communication skills, including speaking Dutch or English fluently. Finally, the candidate should have a strong drive to participate in preclinical sheep research.

As PhD-candidate at Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale P according to UFO profile Promovendus, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2770,00 and €3539,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.
  The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply.

Maastricht University

Why work at Maastricht University?
At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences

At the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), everything revolves around healthy living. Our research and education are not solely focused on recovery, but place a strong emphasis on prevention, health preservation, and health promotion. Our aim is to use our knowledge and expertise to genuinely contribute to the well-being of individual people as well as society in total.

In, research, and healthcare, FHML is closely collaborating with the academic hospital in Maastricht, together forming the Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+). FHML is strongly connected in education, research, and care with the Maastricht academic hospital, together with which it forms the Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+).

FHML, which is the largest faculty of Maastricht University, is formed by an (inter)national community of employees and students. The faculty offers a wide range of Dutch and English-taught bachelor's and master's programs in innovative educational concepts in which the emphasis is always on building bridges to practice.

The multidisciplinary research of the FHML focuses on a number of carefully chosen topical current themes. In addition to research aimed at gaining new insights, it also concerns research whose results can be directly translated into concrete applications and innovations. The implementation of the various research programs is organized in our six graduate schools and two institutes.

Department
The department of Neonatology of MUMC+ and the laboratory of Pediatrics of UM are internationally recognized for the well-established preclinical work on perinatal injury and long-term outcome. Our team consists of experts in the field of clinical and experimental neonatology, developmental biology and neuroimaging.

The Computational Brain Connectivity lab (CBClab) is part of the department of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience of Maastricht University, and its research focusses on understanding the intricately connected biological circuits in the human brain, and how they support computations that enable human perceptual and cognitive capabilities. The lab is closely involved in the Scannexus ultra-high field human Magnetic Resonance Imaging facility.