Job description
The Heart Failure Research team of Prof.dr.Stephane Heymans within CARIM and the University (Hospital) of Maastricht (www.hfresearch.eu) is looking for (MD) PhD candidates to identify the best immune/genetic targets of non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. If you are interested in unravelling disease pathophysiology of inflammatory and/or genetic cardiomyopathies, and as such identifying new therapeutic targets, you will like this project. You will help to analyze the increasing amount of transcriptomics, proteomics and whole genome sequencing data (bulk and single cell in heart/blood) in our centre in our cohort on non-ischemic CMPs. You will unravel new targets for drug development in specific subgroups of genetic or inflammatory cardiomyopathies. Pending on your clinical and/or molecular expertise, you will drive the further development of these targets either in experimental studies (mice/ in vitro) or validate your findings in the existing human cardiac/blood samples with additional expression studies. If you have expertise/interest in data science for omics analysis, if you are passionate about a possible clinical impact, and would like to translate this to new therapies, you are the right candidate.

Projects: we have 1, by extension 2, positions available, within International (European) projects and in close collaboration with industry and the hospital.

Environment:
This team has a strong combined clinical-translational-basic research expertise in nonischemic (genetic & inflammatory) cardiomyopathies, with deep phenotyped patient cohort (>2300 patients follow up of up to 20 years); with PBMC, DNA, plasma/serum, and cardiac tissue biobanking, and a long-term clinical and imaging follow-up. Our team exists of enthusiastic clinical and basic researchers/ technicians/ data scientists/ nurses. By working with us, you will understand what the impact of your work is for the patient him/herself. We have, beside the human samples and data, also mouse models, cardiac cells in vitro, iPSc cells available to identify/validate the targets in d i f f e r e n t genetic/inflammatory cardiomyopathies. We have transcriptomics (>300) and whole genome sequencing data (n=450) available. With your clinical and/our molecular expertise, and a drive data science/analysis (bio-informatics) you will have a great time, and have the opportunity to closely work together with clinicians and industry partners (Pharma and Biotech) to bring it further into the patient.

Required/helpful expertise: masters in life sciences/ health care (medicine, pharmacology, biomedicine or related)

• Data science/omics analysis/bio-informatics (required);
• Animal work (helpful) and related histology (helpful/required);
• RNA and protein molecular work (required/helpful for MD);
• Basic understanding or interest in heart failure in patients (helpful).

What we offer

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

• Good employment conditions. The position is in graded in scale PhD according to the UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary from € 2,770 in the first year to € 3,539 gross per month in the fourth year (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 are applicable.
• 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. For more information, Click here

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.

Click here for more information about UM.

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 staff and students. The faculty offers a wide range of Dutch and English-taught Bachelor and Master's programs in innovative educational concepts, with the emphasis always on building bridges to practice

The multidisciplinary research of FHML focuses on several carefully chosen current themes. In addition to research aimed at gaining new insights, this also involves research whose results can be directly translated into concrete applications and innovations. The various research programmes are organised into six graduate schools and two research institutes.

School for Cardiovascular Diseases (CARIM)
CARIM (www.carimmaastricht.nl) is one of the eight research institutes of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) of Maastricht University. It is embedded in the Maastricht University Medical Center+ (Maastricht UMC+). Located in the heart of Europe, UM holds the distinction of being the most internationally diverse university in the Netherlands with more than half of our students and academic staff coming from abroad. In total, UM represents 100 different nationalities. The UM culture thrives due to its collaborative approach, fostering continuous interaction between staff, students, and researchers, yielding a dynamic environment that thrives on embracing novel challenges. This approach creates a stimulating and innovating workspace that is at the forefront of cardiovascular innovation.