Maastricht University campus Venlo focuses on food, nutrition and health. The first life sciences research program that started was the Centre for Health Eating & Food Innovation (HEFI).

HEFI investigates the effects of healthy foods, builds up knowledge about the health effects of food and the development of new nutritional products. The human intervention research in this centre takes place in the research line Food Innovation and Health. This group studies the effects of food innovations on the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases and related symptoms.

The project

The research line Food Innovation and Health is strongly embedded in the region. As a partner of the Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo, part of the research is constructed with governmental bodies and relevant companies, in a triple helix structure. The PhD candidate will work on the following project.  

The added value of fruit

In a collaboration with the Province of Limburg and Universiteit Hasselt (Belgium), we will study the health aspects of fruit. More specifically, this research project aims to obtain in-depth knowledge on how fruit and its bioactive components affect human metabolic health. To this end, a series of human in vivo intervention studies will be conducted, and in vitro research will be performed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms using dedicated cell lines and standard cell and molecular biology techniques. UHasselt will study the effects of fruit and its bioactive components on neurodegenerative diseases; the selected PhD candidate will give support to that project, by facilitating human trials.

The work in this project includes, but is not limited to, setting up and running human intervention studies, performing in vitro studies, analyzing biomarkers in biological specimen, performing statistical analyses on study outcome parameters, producing scientific manuscripts and submitting these for publication in international peer reviewed scientific journals, and academic teaching at Maastricht University Campus Venlo (approximately 0.1 fte).

We are looking for a PhD-candidate with the following required and preferred qualifications:

Required:

·         MSc in Medicine/Physician Clinical Researcher, Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, Health Food Innovation Management or related discipline;

·         Cell culture experience (a SMT certificate is required)

·         Experience in cell and molecular biological techniques such as PCR

·         Advanced skills in biostatistics;

·         Team player;

·         Excellent communication skills;

·         A project- and results-oriented way of working with a planned and pro-active approach;

·         Ability to work with human volunteers in the setting of human dietary intervention studies;

·          Proficiency in English, in speaking as well as in academic writing.

Preferred:

·         Experience in human intervention research;

·         Experience in biochemical assays;

·         Very good to excellent academic writing ability;

·         Proficiency in Dutch, to be able to work in a clinical setting with regional study participants.

Fixed-term contract: Temporarily, one year, with a three year extension upon proper functioning. Anticipated starting date: February 01, 2021 (or sooner if possible).

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.

Your salary will be based on the VNU salary for PhD student starting at € 2.395,-- and increasing to € 3.061,-- gross per month over the course of the 4-years PhD project, according to salary-scale P0-P3. On top of this, there is an 8% holiday and an 8.3% year-end allowance.

The contract is initially for a period of 1 year, after which the candidate will be evaluated and a decision will be made to continue or discontinue the PhD trajectory.

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.

Campus Venlo/Villa Flora

The research facilities of Maastricht University - campus Venlo are located in Villa Flora in Venlo. The building has been transformed into a site where numerous parties join together in research on healthy food. The Maastricht University facilities are, with approx. 600 m2, the largest in Villa Flora, and have been in use only since Jan 2018. The brand new facilities are state-of-the-art, and are an excellent setting for the anticipated project. The group of Dr. Troost, where the research will be carried out, has a close collaboration with the Maastricht University Medical Centre+ and the VieCuri Medical Centre in Venlo. The research facilities include dietary intervention facilities, clinical intervention laboratories, an exercise physiology lab, analytical facilities, a molecular biology lab and a cell culture lab.