Type 2 diabetes is a severe chronic disease urgently needing new treatment options. We are looking for a highly self-motivated Msc student with a degree in Medicine or Biomedical Sciences (or a comparable degree) who is looking for an ambitious PhD project. The PhD student will be involved in relatively small-scale human studies, in which she/he will perform drug and/or lifestyle interventions in type 2 diabetes patients or people at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. We also believe that appropriate timing of such lifestyle (nutrition/exercise) interventions, to enhance daily rhythmicity of the circadian timing system, holds great promise to further improve metabolic health and glucose homeostasis and may be a novel strategy in the prevention and treatment of T2D. The effects of these interventions will be thoroughly investigated using techniques such as indirect calorimetry and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps. We also intend to implement non-invasive imaging techniques (magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy, MRI/MRS; positron emission tomography, PET) to assess the metabolic responses to the interventions in a tissue-specific way. In addition, we will take muscle biopsies to allow for more in-depth molecular analyses. A strong (international) research group and -network is available to aid in the execution of the project and to receive additional training.

MSc in Medicine, Biomedical Sciences or equivalent, with demonstrated affinity and/or experience with human intervention research and a genuine interest in metabolic imaging. A degree as medical doctor (MD) is a strong advantage. Good communication and organizational skills are required as well as qualifications to work in a team. Due to interaction with test subjects, mastering the Dutch language is a prerequisite (or needs to be acquired).

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

Temporary employment for 4 years. The first year will be a probation period, after a positive assessment the position will be extended for another 3 years, which happens in the vast majority of cases.

Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels. Your salary would be
€ 2.434,- gross per month in the first year up to € 3.111,- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-candidate salary scale. An 8% holiday and an 8.3% year-end allowance is also provided. Each year an evaluation will take place.

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 > About UM > Working at UM.

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 20,000 students and 4,700 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. For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl.

Within our translational research group (www.dmrg.nl), embedded in the department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences and within NUTRIM - School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism at Maastricht University, we perform human clinical and experimental trials to unravel the aetiology of type 2 diabetes. We have special interest in human skeletal muscle and liver metabolism and we apply whole-body, tissue and cellular approaches to study mechanisms that lead to the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. To this end, Maastricht University has unique facilities to perform human translational studies (Metabolic Research Unit Maastricht, MRUM), which includes clamp facilities, whole body respiration chambers and access to magnetic resonance imaging and -spectroscopy (MRI/MRS) and positron emission tomography (PET) at the Maastricht University Medical Center.