PhD position: Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases

Immune cells play a key role in inflammation and cardiovascular disease. In this project—part of Atheroneth | Consortium for personalized treatment of atherosclerosis, a national collaboration between all Dutch University Medical Centers funded by the Dutch Heart Foundation—we aim to uncover how immune cells and inflammation drive the diversity of atherosclerosis. Our goal is to identify distinct disease mechanisms and enable more personalized treatments. Building on our previous research within the Lifelines cohort, a large population-based study from the North of the Netherlands, as well as detailed mechanistic studies in cells and animal models, this project offers a strong foundation for impactful discovery. It is a collaboration between the Departments of Pediatrics and Radiology at the University Medical Center Groningen.

- You are a motivated and curious researcher with a strong interest in cardiovascular diseases and inflammation.
- You hold an MSc in Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, or a related discipline.
- You have excellent communication skills in English, both spoken and written.
- You enjoy working collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary research team.
- Experience in metabolism, inflammation, immunology, or cardiovascular disease research is an asset. Hands-on experience with mouse models, flow cytometry, histology, cell biology, or molecular biology techniques will be considered an advantage.

We offer a full-time appointment (36 hours a week) for a period of four years. The preferred starting date is February 2026. Your salary will be a minimum of € 2.901,- gross per month in the first year and a maximum of € 3.336,- gross per month (scale PhD) in the final (4th) year, based on a full-time appointment. In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

Applications
Applications should include:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Contact information of at least two references
- Academic transcripts

For additional information regarding this vacancy, please contact Dr. Marit Westerterp

The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) is one of the largest medical centers in The Netherlands. More than 12.000 employees provide patient care and medical education and perform biomedical research. The environment is ambitious, dynamic, and international, with state-of-the-art facilities. You will have the opportunity to perform cutting-edge research in a collaborative project between the Departments of Pediatrics and Radiology, in the building of the European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging (ERIBA), and to work with renowned scientists in the field of lipid metabolism, inflammation, radiology, and cardiovascular disease. You will also have the opportunity to participate in courses offered by the Graduate School of Sciences. The aim of the PhD program is to prepare candidates for a career as independent scientists.