Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in food are potential risk factors for inflammation, insulin resistance and vascular complications. AGEs are a heterogeneous, complex group of bioactive compounds that are formed when reducing sugar reacts in a non-enzymatic way with amino acids in proteins. Food products, especially foods that have been processed at high temperatures, are a source of exposure to AGEs for humans. In addition, AGEs can be endogenously formed in the human body. When dietary AGEs become incorporated in body components, they remain biologically active and exert their pathological effects. Dicarbonyl compounds are reactive precursors (pre-AGEs) in the formation of AGEs.

In this PhD project, we will use HPLC-MSMS to quantify the major pre-AGEs in a wide range of foods and beverages. For participants in our large cohort studies, the dietary intake of pre-AGEs shall be calculated based on the obtained database on pre-AGEs composition of food-items and appropriate FFQs. We will establish whether dietary pre-AGEs such as methylglyoxal represent a significant source of circulating and tissue AGEs. The relationship of the intake of dietary pre-AGEs with markers of inflammation, endothelial function, insulin resistance and vascular function will be determined by linear regression. In addition, the association of glycemic index or -load with circulating pre-AGEs will be investigated. This project will lead to novel insights into the role of dietary pre-AGEs in chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity and in vascular complications.  The impact, from a clinical point of view, will be that this study will lead to new possibilities for (dietary) intervention.

To fill the PhD position for this project, we are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with a strong motivation and the ability to proactively tackle the project’s research questions. The candidate should have a background (master degree or equivalent) in Nutrition and Health, (Nutritional),  Epidemiology or Medicine and have an outspoken interest in biomedical research. Experience with analyzing (epidemiological) data is considered as an advantage. Subsequent to the PhD project, there will be the possibility for candidates with a degree in medicine of a residency program in Internal Medicine. 

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

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 https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/support/um-employees

Temporary employment for 4 years. After one year, an evaluation takes place and a go-no go decision will be taken for another 3 years. Each year an evaluation takes place.

Your salary would be € 2.222,-- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.840,-- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-student salary scale.

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 16,500 students and 4,000 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.

CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases

The Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), School for Cardiovascular Diseases, is one of the top institutes for translational cardiovascular research in Europe. It is among the world leaders in the fields of research into vascular and thrombotic disorders and atrial fibrillation as well as translational heart failure research. It has also made important international contributions to molecular imaging in the cardiovascular field.

With an annual budget of approximately 22 mln Euros in 2016, CARIM is one of the largest cardiovascular research institutes in Europe, producing more than 550 scientific articles and approximately 45 PhD dissertations per year. CARIM employs 250 researchers from 13 disciplines, about 120 PhD students and 50 technical and support staff members.

Over the last ten years, CARIM papers have been published in high-impact journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Nature Medicine, Nature Cell Biology, Cell Metabolism, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Circulation, Lancet Neurology, and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Bibliometric analyses illustrate that CARIM publications have been cited 1.97 times more often than the world average for the cardiovascular field in the period of 2009 until 2012.

CARIM is recognized by the KNAW as a research school and as an international training site for Early Stage Researchers in the framework of the Marie Curie Program.

Cardiovascular scientists from around the world join CARIM because it values open communication, close cooperation, high ambitions, good facilities and a critical learning environment.