We invite applications for 1 PhD position in clinical electrophysiology and neuroimaging at the Academic Center for Epileptology (ACE), Kempenhaeghe, and Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), the Netherlands. The position is embedded in the School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS) in the Maastricht University.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures. The aim of epilepsy surgery is to cure patients whose seizures cannot be treated with medication. The eligibility of patients for epilepsy surgery is determined by a multidisciplinary group of medical specialists (ACE Werkgroep Epilepsie Chirurgie; AWEC) via an extensive evaluation, including non-invasive and invasive examinations to determine the epileptogenic source of the individual patient. With the candidates work, we aim to study the effects of a local micro-surgical treatment, namely radiofrequency thermocoagulation, of the epileptogenic source on brain network activity and organization. The candidate will work closely with a medical PhD student to investigate the predictive value of electrophysiological (stereo-EEG) and neuroimaging (MRI) biomarkers, with various metrics, for treatment outcome.

As a PhD-student you will be a team player within ACE, with a technical focus on all aspects pertaining to electrophysiological and MRI acquisition in epilepsy patients, computational modeling, and data analysis. You will be working in a stimulating interdisciplinary team including neurologists, clinical neurophysiologists, neurosurgeons, engineers, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists and other clinicians. You will divide your time between Kempenhaeghe (Heeze) and MUMC+ (Maastricht).

The PhD is a combination of technological skills, teamwork, and data analyses. Preferably, you have affinity with clinical and/or basic scientific research, are able to work in a multidisciplinary setting, you like complex problems, and have good skills in English writing. To communicate with patients and hospital employees, an adequate level of the Dutch language is preferred. A M.Sc. degree is required in biomedical engineering, technical medicine, (applied) physics, electrical engineering, or other related fields of study. Experience with EEG, MRI, data analysis, and MATLAB/ python programming is a strong advantage.

This research is supported by EpilepsieNL grant 23-08. It will be a 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.

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. 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 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.

School for Mental Health and Neuroscience
MHeNS is one of the internationally leading institutes on neuroscience research, and aims at advancing our understanding of brain-behavior relationships by adopting an integrated approach between the various disciplines in neuro- and behavioral science, medicine and the life sciences. Epilepsy and epilepsy surgery are the subject of excellent care and research within the Brain and Nerve Center (BNC) of the MUMC+. This project fits perfectly with three of the BNC's five thematic priorities: neuromonitoring, neuromodulation and neuroimaging. The BNC has an excellent track record in these strategic lines of research.

Academic Center for Epileptology Kempenhaeghe and Maastricht UMC+
In January 2014 an official collaboration was established between Kempenhaeghe and Maastricht UMC+ through the formation of the Academic Center for Epileptology (ACE). Due to the availability of high-quality research facilities and a lot of expertise in the field of epilepsy treatment methods, ACE is suitable for research and implementation of new possibilities for diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.

Brain Imaging Maastricht
The neuroimaging research line at the department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine at Maastricht UMC+ focuses on state-of-the-art clinical neuroscience using advanced neurovascular and microstructural imaging techniques. The research has been published in the leading academic journals, including the Lancet Neurology, Neurology, Radiology, Cerebral Cortex, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, Neuroimage, and Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Circuits and Systems group of Delft University of Technology and Signal Processing Systems group of Eindhoven University of Technology
For this project, there is intense collaboration with groups of both Technical Universities, who have extensive experience in signal modeling and signal processing of electrophysiological and neuroimaging data.

Equipment
Currently, ACE hosts an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) with state-of-the art video-stereo- 3 electrophysiological recording systems and a 3.0 Tesla Philips MRI system.