CaReSyAn will train scientists in a close cooperation between academia, SME and industry partners. Key objectives are to provide: 1) Excellent scientific training on CRS pathology, integrating clinical/mechanistic knowledge with technological skills (animals and in vitro, molecular and functional studies, proteomics and bioinformatics) to generate innovative insights triggering the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of the CRS; 2) Excellent complementary skills in personal and career development as well as business training required to extend beyond scientific research; and 3) Exposure to both academic and non-academic environments, required to build bridges between researchers and entrepreneurs and support the future translation of research findings in innovative products and services.

For more information: https://www.caresyan.eu

The PhD position title is “Post-translational modifications of calcification regulators in the cardiorenal syndrome” (ESR 9). As  ~50% of variation of serum calcification propensity is related to yet unknown factors, ESR9 will identify novel regulators of vascular calcification and associated inflammatory processes by screening for alterations in the concentration and post-translational modifications (PTMs)ofcalcification inhibitors as assessed by mass spectrometry in sera of patients/animal models with high vs low calcification propensity. In close collaboration with other ESRs in the consortium, the ESR will examine the impact of identified PTMs on calcification and inflammation in vitro in an in-house high content microscopy analysis platform, ex-vivo in tissue sections, and by gene/proteomics analysis. Expression levels and PTMs of (novel) calcification regulators will be compared in a cohort of patients with cardiorenal syndrome vs healthy controls, and correlated with vascular calcification extent. For an impression of our work see Van der Vorst et al Cell Metabolism 25: 197, 2017; Marsch et al., European Heart Journal 37: 2993, 2016, Medina et al., Circulation 132: 490 2015.

Applicants must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before appointment under the project; Applicants shall also be in the first four years of their research careers at the time of appointment by the host organisation and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. For more information on Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks, please see: ec.europa.eu/mariecurieactions.

Qualifications: Bachelor degree in Biomedical Science (preferable Cell Biology or equivalent) and excellent command of the English language are essential. Master degree in Cell Biology or equivalent is desirable.

Experience: Laboratory activities (e.g. cell culture, cell separation, blotting) are essential. Flow cytometry, microscopy, and mass spectrometry analysis are desirable. Experience with animal handling and work is desirable.

Knowledge & skills: Knowledge of cell behaviour, reactivity and phenotype is essential. Knowledge of vascular biology, inflammation and exosomes is desirable. Cell culturing, Western blotting, real time PCR, and ELISA are desirable. Good communication skills and analytical skills are essential.

Abilities:  Interpreting scientific literature and incorporation into project and understanding the research process are essential. Organising and prioritising own work and organising research within the project timetable are essential. Maintaining accurate and up to date records are essential.

Attitude & disposition: Following abilities and dispositions are essential: Flexible and co-operative; Good relationships with staff and to communicate effectively; Self-motivated and hardworking; Enquiring, critical approach to work; Willingness to learn new skills; and willing to travel and go on secondments.

Other circumstances: Willingness to work flexibly in order to achieve project demands and targets as agreed with Supervisor is essential. Able to travel to workshops and for research collaboration in other EU countries with notice is essential.

Fixed-term contract: 3 years.

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.

According to the EU rules for the ITN projects, the recruited researchers must comply with the following conditions:

- are — at the date of recruitment — early-stage researchers (i.e. NOT have a doctoral degree AND be in the first 4 years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research career)

- are recruited under an employment contract/equivalent direct contract (i.e. other contract with equivalent benefits and social security coverage), including: sickness, parental, unemployment and invalidity benefits - pension rights and - benefits for accidents at work and occupational diseases.

If national law prevents them from recruiting researchers under an employment contract/equivalent direct contract, beneficiaries may — exceptionally and subject to the Agency’s prior agreement — offer a fixed-amount fellowship with minimum social security coverage, including: sickness, parental and invalidity benefits and benefits for accidents at work and occupational diseases.

In this case, the living allowance will be reduced by 50%.

- be employed for at least 3 months and up to 36 months.

- be employed full-time, unless the Agency has approved a part-time employment for personal or family reasons

- work exclusively on the research training activities

- must comply with the following mobility rule: not have resided in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date (and not have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in that country) — unless as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention. For beneficiaries that are international European interest organisations or international organisations: not have spent with the beneficiary more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.

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 16,300 students and 4,300 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.

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

CARIM

The Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), School for Cardiovascular Diseases, is one of the top institutes for translational cardiovascular research in Europe. It is among the world leaders in the fields of research into vascular and thrombotic disorders and atrial fibrillation as well as translational heart failure research. It has also made important international contributions to molecular imaging in the cardiovascular field.

With an annual budget of approximately 22 mln Euros in 2017, CARIM is one of the largest cardiovascular research institutes in Europe, producing more than 500 scientific articles and approximately 40 PhD dissertations per year. CARIM employs 250 researchers from 13 disciplines, about 100 PhD students and 40 technical and support staff members.

Over the last ten years, CARIM papers have been published in high-impact journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Nature Medicine, Nature Cell Biology, Cell Metabolism, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Circulation, Lancet Neurology, and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Bibliometric analyses illustrate that CARIM publications have been cited 1.97 times more often than the world average for the cardiovascular field in the period of 2009 until 2012.

CARIM is recognized by the KNAW as a research school and as an international training site for Early Stage Researchers in the framework of the Marie Curie Program.

Cardiovascular scientists from around the world join CARIM because it values open communication, close cooperation, high ambitions, good facilities and a critical learning environment.

https://www.carimmaastricht.nl/?culture=en-GB