The research division of Physics Research, where you will be a apart of, specializes in the combination of imaging, precision irradiation and radiation dose calculations. For preclinical research (animal research), we collaborate closely with the Radiobiology team. Since 2019 Maastro has a proton radiotherapy department with a brand new cyclotron. Our overall aims are to translate preclinical research to a clinical setting and to develop high-precision radiotherapy.

In this position, you will develop, in a team, technology to enable precision image-guided irradiation with proton and photon beams of preclinical models for cancer studies. To this end, we have developed or are developing several very unique radiation research platforms to compare photon and proton radiotherapy. These platforms are also equipped with robots and with a range of novel preclinical imaging techniques such as cone beam CT, proton tomography and bioluminescence tomography. Your role will be to put some of this equipment together, and make sure it can be used optimally, which will require software development. There will be close collaboration with partnering companies in the research consortium.

We are looking for a researcher (junior or post-doc level) in radiation physics or radiation engineering for biomedical research. Our new team member is a dynamic co-worker, preferably a recent graduate with a strong MSc degree in physics or physics engineering with an interest in biomedical research. Candidates with a relevant PhD will also be considered.

Ideally, you have knowledge of hardware system development and advanced computer programming skills. You are interested in preclinical work for translation into radiotherapy practice. You should have an excellent study record with a GPA of at least 3.5/4, and be willing to work in a highly motivated team of physicists and radiobiologists. You should be willing to relocate to the region around Maastricht (which is also close to Germany and Belgium). Knowledge of the Dutch language is not a requirement. You should be fluent in English (written and spoken).

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Employment conditions are based on the Dutch Collective Labor Agreement for Hospitals (CAO-Ziekenhuizen). You will receive a fulltime contract (36 hours/week) for an initial period of one year, which in case of a successful evaluation will be extended to a total period of 4 years. 

As a junior researcher, your salary will be according to the salary scale FWG 50 (min. € 2.336,-, max. € 2.731,-) and as a post-doc researcher your salary will be according to the salary scale FWG 60 (min. € 3.072,-, max. € 4.466,- depending on your relevant work experience).

Within the collective labor agreement, there is an extensive package of fringe benefits, including a 8.33% holiday allowance and 8.33% end-of-year bonus and an excellent pension provision. In addition, Maastro offers various discount schemes with regard to (healthcare) insurance, bicycle purchase and sports subscriptions. Candidates from abroad may qualify for the advantageous 30% tax rule.

Maastro

The internationally acclaimed radiotherapy institute Maastro in Maastricht delivers cancer care in the Limburg region of the Netherlands, aiming to cure patients while preventing side effects of the provided treatments. All disciplines within Maastro contribute to this endeavour to optimally prepare and perform the treatments. Maastro is a state-of-the-art clinic with the latest imaging and radiotherapy equipment, and has started treating patients with proton therapy beginning 2019. Furthermore, we have well-established research groups and we work closely with Maastricht University (Research School GROW) and Maastricht University Hospital (MUMC+) in the fields of education, clinical and pre-clinical research.