You cannot apply for this job anymore (deadline was 4 Mar 2018).
Browse the current job offers or choose an item in the top navigation above.
The Interreg Nederland-Vlaanderen project “Memories” aims to utilise omic profiles in an agnostic search for new and integrated biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease.
In this position you will work on mechanistic understanding by applying differential genomics analysis obtained from neuronal cell models derived from pluripotent stem cells generated from healthy individuals, individuals with mild cognitive impairment, and patients with various degrees of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, following in-vitro exposure to neurotoxins. The focus will be on expression profiling for genes and microRNAs using sequencing technologies. This information will then be validated against data to be obtained from biological samples from patients presenting similar disease phenotypes. Advancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the earliest stages of dementia development will facilitate the creation of novel tools for early diagnosis. In addition to the discovery of novel biomarkers, you will explore the mechanistic information of value in establishing cause-effect relationships, by functional analyses of pathways, transcription factors and mRNA-microRNA interactions. From this, new opportunities for development of drugs addressing early events in disease progression are expected to emerge from the project as well, and this combined with better methods for pre-clinical and clinical efficacy assessment of novel drugs. As a post-doctoral researcher you will publish scientific journal articles on your work and will actively seek new funding opportunities through grant applications. You will present your work at local, national and international conferences. You will provide guidance to BSc, MSc and/or PhD students and/or technicians, and will interact with other researchers.
A candidate with the following required and preferred qualifications:
Required: - PhD in Bioinformatics, Systems Biology, Bio-Medical Sciences or equivalent; - Interest in neurotoxicology; - A project and result-oriented way of working with a planned approach; - Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team of molecular biologists, computer scientists, physicists, and other medical and non-medical personnel;
Preferred: - Experience with working in the scientific or bio-medical research field; - Experience with analyzing large-scale omics data using multiple bioinformatic tools; - Experience with gene and microRNA sequencing data analysis; - Experience with complex statistics; - Ability to work with R and MySQL or equivalent languages or databases; Fluency in English
Fixed-term contract: till December 31, 2020.
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 www.maastrichtuniversity.nl. The position is temporary for the duration of the project (14 months), staring as soon as possible. Depending on experience and qualification, the gross monthly salary is scale 11 (max. € 4757,=), based on a full-time appointment.
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 16,300 students and 4,300 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.
The School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, MHeNs focuses on translational research on neurodegenerative disorders. We work closely together with clinicians of the academic hospital and psychiatric institutions. Our school is organized into three research divisions: Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience (Prof. Dr. Frans Verhey) focuses on Cognitive development & aging, Cognitive disorders and Biopsychological mechanisms as well as learning. Mental Health (Prof. Dr. Therese van Amelsvoort) has its focus on the mechanisms through which interactions between individuals and their environments contribute to the development of major psychiatric disorders and somatic co-morbidity. Neuroscience (Prof. dr. Jos Prickaerts) the focus of neuroscience is strictly related to mechanisms in neurodegeneration and plasticity. The major emphasis is on fundamental neuroscientific research on a variety of translational questions. We are bridging clinical questions to animal models for Depression and Neurodegeneration. The strength of our School is situated in the translational aspects of fundamental neuroscience towards applied neurodegenerative and neurological neuropsychiatric strategies. We work with specific animal models and large cohort of patients. All focused on the development of new therapeutic strategies.
We like to make it easy for you, sign in for these and other useful features: