Job Maastricht University - PhD student NUTRIM / Health Risk Analysis & Toxicology / RIVM

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is an analgesic and antipyretic drug commonly used in both infants and adults. In many European countries, paracetamol is routinely used prophylactically to reduce pain and fever associated with vaccination. This is becoming a common practice in the Netherlands when children who have experienced fever after vaccination are advised to use paracetamol prior to further vaccinations.

The candidate will test the hypothesis that paracetamol modulates the development of vaccination responses. Vaccination responses will be examined in prospective human cohorts (children and adults) and experimental models in mice in the presence and absence of paracetamol.

MSc in Medicine, Medical Biology, Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy, or equivalent education;
Proven knowledge and interest in epidemiology;
Preferred knowledge of clinical immunological research;
Well-developed social skills directed to working in a multidisciplinary team with strong planning and organizational skills.

Appointment at Maastricht University, the candidate will be stationed at www.RIVM.nl  Bilthoven. 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/  , A-Z Terms of Employment.
Every year an evaluation takes place.

Your salary would be € 2.042,- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.612,- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-student salary.

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 14,000 students and 3,500 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 Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

NUTRIM initiates and catalyzes translational research into nutritional health benefits and risks focusing on metabolic and chronic inflammatory diseases. Through its research master and PhD program NUTRIM aims to educate scientists of high academic excellence and ambassadors to support and develop the filed of nutrition, metabolism and toxicology within and outside the Netherlands. 15 Biomedical, clinical, and behavioural-science departments are incorporated within NUTRIM. The school participates in the Graduate School VLAG (Food Technology, Agrobiotechnology, Nutrition and Health Sciences), accredited by the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) is a partner in TI Food and Nutrition and participates in TI-Pharma and the Centre for Translational Molecular Medicine. These unique consortia of government, industry and research aim to stimulate the transfer of knowledge generated in fundamental research to Dutch industry and thus to strengthen its innovative power and competitive strength.

Dr. A. Sleijffers (Annemarie.sleijffers@rivm.nl +3130 2742929) or Prof. Dr. H. van Loveren (Henk.van.loveren@rivm.nl  +3130 2743667)