Four early stage researchers (ESR) with different backgrounds will be trained to face the variability challenges within the field of adult cochlear implantation. Especially, they will focus on those CI adults doing rather poorly with their CI. In order to cover all aspects of the holistic framework, the 4 ESRs will closely collaborate. The 4 ESRs will look beyond the clinical predictors and metrics that are currently being used in the clinical routine. The ESRs will be offered the possibility to have secondments at Artinis Medical Systems BV (Netherlands), the Ida Institute (Denmark), the Maastricht University Medical Center (Netherlands), the Hannover Medical School (Germany), the Trinity College in Dublin (Ireland) and the VU University Medical Center (Netherlands) depending on the project they are assigned to.

A call for four PhD positions (Early Stage Researchers [ESRs]) is open within the context of the recently granted European Industrial Doctorate (EID) project MOSAICS - European Industrial Doctorate to train experts in auditory implants for minimized outcome spread and maximized participation in society. MOSAICS has been specifically designed to support Europe's innovation capacity and leadership in hearing-related research and manufacturing by providing world-class intersectoral training to four ESRs. The objective of the project is to understand, identify, and intervene on the unexplained variability in outcomes among adult cochlear implants (CI) users by adopting a novel multidisciplinary approach that includes engineering, biophysics, neuroscience and psychology.

The MOSAICS project is currently under grant agreement preparation with the European Commission for a Marie Sklłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Innovative Training Networks (ITN) H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019 under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 860718.

All recruited researchers will spend at least half of their three years on the project at industry partners. The multidisciplinary and intersectoral doctoral programme is based on a modular system that addresses the individual needs of the ESRs.

The MOSAICS consortium consists of two recruiting organisations:

• Cochlear Benelux NV (Belgium) ESR position 2 and 4.
• Radboud University Medical Center (Netherlands) ESR postion 1 and 3.

The successful candidates will benefit from an international scientific network of high-profile industry and academic partners, intersectoral secondments as well as individual and network-wide training modules, including transferable skills courses. Furthermore, each ESR will be expected to work towards a PhD degree and be supervised by an Industry-Academia supervisory team consisting of at least one supervisor from each field.

Read more about the 4 ESR positions.

Specific Eligibility Criteria on the H2020 Marie Sklodowska Curie programme:

• Research experience: At the time of recruitment, the applicants must be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.
• Mobility rule: At the time of recruitment, applicants must not have resided or carried out main activity (e.g. studies, work) in the country of the host institution (employer) for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to the recruitment date.

All ESRs will receive an attractive remuneration in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Early Stage Researchers.

Read more about the Radboudumc employment conditions and what our International Office can do for you when moving to the Netherlands. Upon commencement of employment we require a certificate of conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) and there will be, depending on the type of job, a screening based on the provided cv. Radboud university medical center's HR Department will apply for this certificate on your behalf.

Radboudumc

MOSAICS (Minimizing Outcome Spread in mAximizing partICipation in Society)
Hearing loss is one of the most challenging health and social issues facing Europe. Communication defines us and underlies our ability to function in the world: to relate to family, friends and partners, have a job, lead productive lives and maintain our health and wellbeing through social connections. Cochlear implants (CI)are used for those for whom powerful hearing aids cannot provide them with useful hearing.

A CI is the most successful neuro-prosthetic device, with more than 350.000 users worldwide. On average, CIs provide adult users with significant improvement in speech understanding in challenging situations, subjective perception of hearing performance, and quality of life. However, a major challenge with adult CI outcomes is the significant variability reported in auditory, speech and language functioning after implantation. It has become clear that in order to achieve consistency excellent hearing outcomes with adult CI users, we must look beyond the standard clinical predictors (such as duration of deafness, age at implantation, degree of residual hearing).

The scope of the MOSAICS EID is to understand, predict, identify and intervene within the variation of adult CI users based on a holistic approach, taking into account body functions and structures, personal factors, activities/participation and environmental factors. The WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) will serve as the framework on which the MOSAICS research is built.

Radboudumc
Radboudumc strives to be a leading developer of sustainable, innovative and affordable healthcare to improve the health and wellbeing of people and society in the Netherlands and beyond. This is the core of our mission: To have a significant impact on healthcare. To get a better picture of what this entails, check out our strategy.

Read more about what it means to work at Radboudumc and how you can do your part.