Job Maastricht University - Research assistant (technician) Department of Movementsciences, TIFN, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology & Metabolism

The Research Assistant/technician will help to develop, plan, and perform the research described in sub-project A-1002D (Clinical benefits of nutritional intervention in the elderly) that will be performed at Maastricht University. In this sub-project, human intervention studies will be performed to evaluate the clinical benefits of long-term nutritional intervention on muscle mass and function in the elderly. Impact of nutritional interventions on muscle mass and/or function will be assessed on a whole-body (anthropometry, DEXA, functional capacity), limb (CT, MRI, Cybex), blood (risk factors for chronic metabolic disease, hormonal responses), as well as muscle (muscle biopsy analyses) level.
Research tasks:
-  assist in the clinical intervention studies that investigate the impact of nutritional and/or exerciseintervention on skeletal muscle mass and function in the elderly
- develop and perform biochemical and immunohistological assays to determine the impact of intervention on skeletal muscle characteristics
- develop and perform blood plasma assays to evaluate changes in hormone balance
- determine biomarkers that can be used to predict the muscle adaptive response to dietary modulation and/or physical activity

The candidate should hold a BS or MS degree in the area of cell biology or biochemistry or a strongly related discipline. Experience in Western Blotting and immuno histological work is required. Past performance in biochemical techniques such as enzymatic analysis is preferred. The candidate should have excellent social skills and a strong drive to participate in research on the impact of diet and/or physical activity on muscle mass and/or function in the elderly.

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.

Extension of the appointment up to a total period of 4 years may be considered.

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. Luc van Loon, +31-43-3881397, l.vanloon@hb.unimaas.nl

TIFood & Nutrition: www.tifn.nl