Physiological and Accelerated Pacing in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Job Description
Background
Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent clinical syndrome with diverse phenotypes. HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for over 50% of HF diagnoses. Despite its increasing incidence, HFpEF lacks targeted treatments. Pacing to modify resting heart rate (HR) has shown promising therapeutic potential for this complex patient population.

This research project aims to:

1. Investigate the hemodynamic effects and outcomes of elevated resting HR through accelerated atrioventricular physiological (conduction system) pacing in HFpEF patients without pacemaker indications, and to elucidate the mechanisms by which this intervention influences cardiac hemodynamics and pump function.
2. Evaluate whether accelerated physiological pacing improves outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who undergo a pace and ablate strategy.

The project encompasses hemodynamic and follow-up studies in HFpEF and AF patients, as well as patient-specific (Digital Twin) simulations based on non-invasive echocardiographic and invasive pressure data integrated into the CircAdapt model of the human cardiovascular system.

During this 4-year PhD project, you will join a high-profile interdisciplinary research team (Departments of Cardiology and Biomedical Engineering) and collaborate closely with other scientists within the experimental and clinical divisions of our department.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting hemodynamic measurements at the cardiac catheterization laboratories during pacemaker implantations.
• Investigating the immediate impact of an accelerated heart rate induced by AV-sequential pacing on Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP) in selected HFpEF patients and patients with AF.
• Evaluating the mid-term outcomes of this pacing intervention in these patients.
• Participating in (but not primarily responsible for) modeling experiments at the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Your work will significantly contribute to the optimization of management strategies for patients with HFpEF and AF. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to enhance your clinical and research skills through a variety of courses, workshops, and seminars.
The Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) is a world-renowned research institute in cardiac pacing and heart failure. Upon successful completion of the PhD trajectory, candidates (with a Dutch MD license) will be invited to apply for the Cardiology training program at Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+). Maastricht is a historic city offering excellent housing options and a high quality of life.

Requirements

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in medicine.
• Enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research team and can communicate effectively across various disciplines.
• Demonstrate an independent and well-structured working style.
• Demonstrable affinity with scientific research and/or cardiology is considered a plus.

What we offer
As PhD candidate - Department of Cardiology 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 PhD, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2872,00 and €3670,00 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. 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 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 - Cardiovascular Research Institute
CARIM is one of the eight research institutes of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) of Maastricht University (UM). 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, technicians, 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.

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Justin Luermans at justin.luermans@mumc.nl for more information.

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD candidate - Department of Cardiology? Apply now, no later than October 13, for this position.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.