PhD candidate | School for Cardiovascular Diseases (CARIM) | Department of Cardiologie

The Heart Failure Research team of Prof.dr.Stephane Heymans within CARIM and the University (Hospital) of Maastricht (www.hfresearch.eu) is looking for a(MD) PhD candidates to to identify the best immune/genetic targets of non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. If you are interested in identifying new therapeutic traget by working with iPSc cells and animal models of our genetic cardiomyopathy patients, you will like this project. Focus will be on the titin truncating variants. If you have expertise in histology, in vitro iPSc and in vivo animal work, esp. heart failure, you will be able to have a very quick start . A strong opportunity will be the collaboration with clinical researchers and industry partners to validate your iPSc and animal data in the transcriptomics (cardiac samples) and clinical data of patients with the same underlying genetic (titin tv) cardiac disease. (www.hfresearch.eu)

Projects: we have 2 positions available, within International (European) projects in close collaboration with industry/clinics.

Environment.
This team has a strong combined clinical-translational-basic research expertise in nonischemic (genetic & inflammatory) cardiomyopathies, with deep phenotyped patient cohort (follow up of up to 20 years); with iPSc, DNA, plasma/serum, and cardiac tissue biobanking, and a long-term clinical and imaging follow-up. Our team exists of enthousiastic clinical and basic researchers/ technicians. As such you will understand what the impact of your work is for the patient behind it. We have indeed mouse models and iPSc cells available to identify validate the targets in (titin) genetic cardiomyopathy. We have transcriptomics and whole genome sequencing data available in >300 cardiomyopathy patients. Along your iPSc and animal work in titin genetic cardiomyophaty, these molecular and clinical data in patients will help not only to unveal but also validate the mechanisms of specific genetic heart failure, and iselect the best targets to be validated again in mouse/iPSc model. You will have the opportunity to closely work together with clinicians and industry partners (Pharma and Biotech) to bring it further into the patient.

Required/helpful expertise: masters in life sciences (pharmacology, medicine, biomedicine, or ...)

• In vitro work with iPSc cells (required);
• Animal work (mouse) and related histology (required);
• RNA and protein molecular work (required);
• Bio-informatics for RNA/DNA/Protein omic (very helpful);
• Basic understanding or interest in heart failure in patients (helpful).

What we offer

As a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, you will be employed by the most international university of the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is in graded in scale Phd according to the UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary from €2,770 in the first year to €3,539 gross per month in the fourth year (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus are applicable.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1.0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, Click here

Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM.

At the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), everything revolves around healthy living. Our research and education are not solely focused on recovery, but place a strong emphasis on prevention, health preservation, and health promotion. Our aim is to use our knowledge and expertise to genuinely contribute to the well-being of individual people as well as society in total. In, research, and healthcare, FHML is closely collaborating with the academic hospital in Maastricht, together forming the Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+). FHML is strongly connected in education, research, and care with the Maastricht academic hospital, together with which it forms the Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+). FHML, which is the largest faculty of Maastricht University, is formed by an (inter)national community of staff and students. The faculty offers a wide range of Dutch and English-taught Bachelor and Master's programs in innovative educational concepts, with the emphasis always on building bridges to practice The multidisciplinary research of FHML focuses on several carefully chosen current themes. In addition to research aimed at gaining new insights, this also involves research whose results can be directly translated into concrete applications and innovations. The various research programmes are organised into six graduate schools and two research institutes. School for Cardiovascular Diseases (CARIM) CARIM (www.carimmaastricht.nl) is one of the eight research institutes of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) of Maastricht University. It is embedded in the Maastricht University Medical Center+ (Maastricht UMC+). Located in the heart of Europe, UM holds the distinction of being the most internationally diverse university in the Netherlands with more than half of our students and academic staff coming from abroad. In total, UM represents 100 different nationalities. The UM culture thrives due to its collaborative approach, fostering continuous interaction between staff, students, and researchers, yielding a dynamic environment that thrives on embracing novel challenges. This approach creates a stimulating and innovating workspace that is at the forefront of cardiovascular innovation.