Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure are prevalent cardiovascular diseases that cause high symptom burden and health care expenditure. It is becoming increasingly clear that atrial failure, like ventricular failure, poses risk for occurrence of AF and heart failure. Atrial failure is defined as an impairment of atrial function and associated with changes in structure, contractility, and electrical atrial properties. The interplay between atrial failure, AF, and heart failure can cause a vicious circle, further limiting atrial function and causing a downward spiral. Furthermore, it is expected that the atrial function determines the success of AF catheter ablation (i.e., the electrophysiological procedure aiming to block the stimuli that trigger AF episodes). However, despite the increasing evidence of its clinical relevance, it is unclear how atrial failure should be diagnosed and classified.

During this 4-year PhD project you will join our high-profile interdisciplinary research team and work closely with other scientists within the experimental and clinical divisions of our department. You will use advanced imaging techniques (such as CT and MRI) to investigate structural and functional properties of the atria, with the ultimate goal to improve detection of atrial failure. You will investigate how atrial failure is related to arrhythmia burden, patient symptoms, and quality of life. Furthermore, you will investigate the effect of atrial failure on outcomes after AF catheter ablation, as well as the effect of ablation on atrial function. As such, your work will significantly contribute to optimization of integrated patient management and personalized treatment approaches.

Besides working in an inspiring environment, you will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of courses, workshops, and seminars to improve your clinical and research skills. The Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) is a world-renowned research institute in the field of cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. After a successful PhD trajectory, candidates (with a Dutch MD license) will be offered to apply for the Cardiology training program in the Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+). The city of Maastricht is a beautiful historic and characteristic city that offers good housing options and excellent quality of life.

You have obtained a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in medicine or a related discipline. You enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research team and are able to communicate with these various disciplines. You have an independent and well-structured working style. We consider demonstrable affinity with scientific research and/or cardiology a plus.

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

Temporary employment of 1.0 FTE for 4 years. The first year will be a probation period, after a positive assessment the position will be extended for another 3 years.

Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels for PhD students starting with a salary of €2443.- with a yearly growth to €3122.- gross a month (based on a full-time appointment). Each year the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

As holder of the Family-friendly University quality mark, we offer flexible working hours and the option of working partly from home if the nature of your job allows it. For this you will receive a monthly home-work and internet allowance. If you work full-time, you are entitled to 29 days of vacation per year. You have the option to work 2 'compensatory hours' a week more, which means an additional 12 vacation days. You can also personalize your terms of employment using a 'Employment Conditions Selection Model'. As a UM employee, you can also participate in our fitness programme and make use of the extensive sports facilities which we offer our students.

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 22,000 students and 5,000 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.