Project description

We seek a PhD candidate to join an interdisciplinary team working to better understand a stem-cell based regenerative medicine therapy for the cornea. Corneal blindness is estimated to affect 23 million people worldwide. The first stem cell therapy for corneal regeneration, Holoclar, was approved in Europe in 2015. This therapy is an autologous transplantation of cultivated limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs), and while it has restored vision to people with no therapeutic alternative, its success rate is limited. In this consortium, we seek to better understand the biology of LESC-mediated regeneration and the fate of the cells upon transplantation by employing nanoprobes to trace the cells in vivo. It is an NWO-funded collaboration of the laboratories of Clemens van Blitterswijk, Rudy Nuijts, and Stefano Ferrari. 

The host
The PhD candidate will have a supervision team comprising Prof. Rudy Nuijts and Dr. Mor Dickman (University Eye Clinic Maastricht) and Dr. Vanessa LaPointe (MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine). As part of the consortium, there will be collaboration with the groups of Dr. Sabine van Rijt and Dr. Stefano Ferrari. 

The candidate will join the laboratory of Dr. LaPointe at the MERLN Institute at Maastricht University. At MERLN, we are a collaborative, international, and interdisciplinary group with diverse expertise, including biomaterials science, chemistry, tissue engineering, and (stem) cell biology. We share newly renovated laboratory facilities with modern equipment. We have a long history as leaders in the field of tissue engineering and are particularly well-known for our orientation towards translational research. 

The University Eye Clinic/Maastricht University Medical Center+ is one the largest academic departments of ophthalmology in Europe. The department is built on a strong foundation of medical education, research, and clinical care. Our clinicians provide care ranging from the routine to the very complex. Scientific work is focused on corneal diseases, cataract, and glaucoma, and is driven by a mission to understand and discover the basis for these conditions, and to develop treatments with a direct impact for patients and society.

Description of the candidate
Candidates should possess a Masters in Cell Biology or have experience that demonstrates their affinity for the field if they have a different educational background. Candidates who have done their Bachelors degree in a country where it is the norm to directly enter a PhD afterwards (e.g. USA) are welcome to apply, but must demonstrate significant independent research experience.

The desired candidate has the following skills and interests:

• (Stem) cell biology
• Regenerative medicine
• Microscopy and in vivo imaging
• Willingness to work with small/medium animals and obtain necessary certifications
• Interest in a 3–6 month visit to the laboratory of Dr. Stefano Ferrari (Italy)

We are looking for creative thinkers who are prepared to take on highly challenging aims. The project will be very interdisciplinary, and will suit an ambitious candidate who likes a fast-paced environment. Excellent knowledge of scientific English for speaking, reading, and writing are required. Knowledge of Dutch is not required.

Fixed-term contract: 1 + 3 years.

Doing a PhD in the Netherlands

For those unfamiliar with the Dutch PhD system, it is the norm to take 1 + 3 years to complete the laboratory work for the degree. PhD candidates are paid a salary and receive benefits along with an 8% holiday and 8.3% year-end bonus given annually. Candidates who need to relocate may be eligible for compensation. It is a full-time research degree, with only optional course work. The terms of employment are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO-NU), and local UM provisions also apply (see www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM-employees ).

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/

MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine

Applying from abroad?

MERLN houses researchers from across the globe who have successfully navigated the transition of moving to the Netherlands. Maastricht University (UM) is the most international university in the Netherlands and, with more than 16,000 students and 4,000 employees, is still growing. Thanks to its high-quality research and education as well as a strong focus on social engagement, UM has quickly built up a reputation as one of the best young universities in the world. 

Maastricht, where we are located, is itself a warm and welcoming city. The city is known for its fine cuisine, excellent shops and multicultural atmosphere. The founding city of the EU is an international hub with inhabitants from around the world. English is widely spoken, which has helped create a unique and vibrant international community. Thanks to Maastricht’s central position in Europe, it is only a short drive away from Belgium, Germany, France and the rest of the Netherlands. The city is family-friendly and possesses an international school and several excellent primary schools.

https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/institute-technology-inspired-regenerative-medicine