22q11.2 copy number variants are caused by a micro deletion or duplication on the long arm of chromosome 22. Patients with these genetic disorders are at increased risk for developing psychiatric disorders including psychosis, depression and anxiety and often have cognitive impairments. The PhD student will be involved in a multi-modalities 7-Tesla neuroimaging project studying brain markers in relation to psychopathology and cognitive functioning in 22q11.2 CNV’s.

We offer a challenging research project using state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities. The successful candidate will work in a team of psychiatrist/psychologists and MRI-physicists. The candidate will be involved in conducting human (intervention) studies, analyzing and interpretation of the collected data and reporting research results.

The successful candidate has a Master degree in Medicine, Psychobiology, Psychology or a related field and a strong interest in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders.
We are looking for an innovative, hard-working and creative personality, with excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills, who is able and willing to work independently as well in an interdisciplinary research team. Experience with recruitment and assessment in the context of clinical (MRI) studies, programming and some knowledge of neurobiology would be an advantage. The candidate should have a very good command of Dutch and English (both written and oral).

The full-time position is offered for four years (1+3), with a yearly evaluation.

Your salary will be € 2,541 gross per month in the first year up to € 3,247 gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-candidate salary scale. On top of this, there is an 8% holiday and an 8.3% year-end allowance.

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 about 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.