Chronic pain is a huge medical problem and a burden for the society. The Dept. Anesthesiology/Pain Medicine  has a long tradition in cutting edge translational research on the mode of action, efficacy and safety of Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) for various chronic pain syndromes; eg CRPS, Diabetic Polyneuropathy. This research is at the crossroad of vertical line “Pain” and the horizontal line “Modulation” of the MHeNS/Hersen-Zenuw Centrum (HZC) matrix. The interventional Pain research is part of a large neuromodulation center in the Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC) and collaborations exists with clinical departments Neurosurgery, Urology, KNO and Surgery.

The post doc position on the translational interventional pain research is focused at role and mechanism of Spinal Cord Stimulation in chronic pain. Recent developments in the knowledge of the mode of action and new SCS paradigms (Burst/HF) as well as new anatomical targets (DRG) must be validated in further investigations. The role of imaging techniques in order to understand spinal and supra-spinal mechanisms involved in SCS is emphasized.

• a PhD in the field chronic pain research, preferably I or translational interventional research;
• a laboratory and clinical focus;
• willing to apply for postdoc grants. eg Vini, Marie Curie or equivalents;
• willing to help writing research grants for the chronic pain subdivision;
• interested in a long term academic career and able to guide junior researchers.

Fixed-term contract: 3 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 http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

Maastricht University

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 18,000 students and 4,400 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 Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.