MSCA-DN PhD position: Functional micronutrient status in critically ill patients

Micronutrient deficiencies are common in critically ill patients and may significantly delay recovery. Current diagnostic methods are often insufficient. As a result, clinical care often relies on fixed-dose supplementation instead of personalised treatment strategies.

Within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions–funded BIO-MICRO project, this PhD project aims to improve diagnostic approaches for assessing functional micronutrient status using innovative analytical methods. Improved diagnostics may help identify patient subphenotypes that are most likely to benefit from targeted micronutrient therapy.

A multicentre, prospective, observational clinical study will be conducted with four cohorts of 55 participants each, representing increasing severity of expected micronutrient deficiencies:

• healthy volunteers;
• patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery;
• critically ill patients;
• burn patients.

Serial measurements of micronutrient concentrations will be performed in serum, leukocytes and erythrocytes. These measurements will be combined with biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Using integrated laboratory and clinical data, empirically derived algorithms will be developed to identify patient subphenotypes through latent profile analysis.

Research Fellowship 5 (RF5): Functional micronutrient status in critically ill patients
Duration: 48 months
Supervisors:

• Dr Angelique de Man (Amsterdam UMC)
• Dr Maurits de Rotte (Amsterdam UMC)
• Dr Lennard Dekker (Reinier Haga Medical Diagnostic Center)
• Dr Linda IJsselstijn (Reinier Haga Medical Diagnostic Center)

As a PhD candidate, you will coordinate this multicentre observational clinical study. You will:

• include patients in the study;
• obtain deferred consent from family members;
• ensure the collection of serial blood samples;
• perform laboratory analyses to assess functional micronutrient status;
• maintain accurate data entry in the electronic case report form.

You will also oversee study activities across all participating centres.

During the secondments, you will contribute to translating research outcomes into clinical practice. This includes working on the commercialisation of micronutrient assays in erythrocytes and leukocytes.

We are looking for a highly motivated and proactive researcher who can work both independently and within an interdisciplinary team. You demonstrate precision, resilience and strong communication skills. The project is expected to result in the successful completion of a PhD thesis.

Required qualifications and experience:

• a Master’s degree in Medicine;
• excellent command of English, both written and spoken; proficiency in Dutch is an advantage;
• knowledge of statistics and experience with data analysis.

Desirable skills (not essential):

• experience with medical or scientific writing;
• laboratory experience.

Note: Important strict eligibility criteria according to MARIE SKLODOWSKA CURIE programs:

1. You must not already hold a doctoral degree.
2. At the time of the application deadline, you must also have a Master's degree and must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the three years prior to the contract start date.
3. As part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie project, the position includes two intersectoral secondments of six months each at partner organisations in Appingedam and Delft.

This PhD position is funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) of the European Union's Europe 2024 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101226686.

• A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of 4 years. The Guideline PhD contract applies to this vacancy.
• Salary scale OIO: € 3.108 to € 3.939 gross based on full-time employment (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. Calculate your net salary here. As of 1 July 2026, the salary will be increased by 3.5% in accordance with the collective labor agreement (CAO UMC).
• You will receive a living allowance of €4,010 per month, adjusted with a country-specific correction factor and subject to local employer contributions and tax regulations. In addition, candidates will receive a monthly mobility allowance of €710. If applicable, a family allowance of €660 per month is provided for fellows with a spouse and/or dependent children. Successful applicants are also eligible for parental leave in accordance with Dutch legislation.
• Vacation hours: 190.4 per year based on full-time employment and possibility to save additional hours.
• Free and unlimited access to our online learning environment GoodHabitz.
• Pension accrual with the ABP, of which we pay 70% of the premium.
• Reimbursement of your public transport expenses. Do you prefer biking to work? Then we have a good bicycle scheme.
• An active staff association and Jong Amsterdam UMC association, both of which organize fun (sports) activities and events.

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicants require a valid residence permit to live and work in the Netherlands.

You will work in a stimulating and interdisciplinary research environment across Amsterdam UMC, Reinier Haga Medical Diagnostic Center and Diagnotix.

Within the Intensive Care department of Amsterdam UMC, you will join a large and dynamic research group consisting of approximately 40 PhD candidates and 5 postdoctoral researchers, supervised by 7 principal investigators across two locations (AMC and VUmc).

Your time will be divided between:

• the Intensive Care department (approximately 70%);
• the clinical chemistry laboratory (approximately 30%).

Training and development
In addition to local PhD training, you will participate in a comprehensive BIO-MICRO educational programme for the 13 Research Fellows. The programme combines monthly online interactive sessions (60–90 minutes) with four intensive three-day in-person workshops. Topics include epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical trial design, statistical computing, scientific writing, and academic and transferable skills development.

PhD candidates will complete two intersectoral secondments of six months each at partner organisations in Appingedam and Delft and have the opportunity to attend relevant international scientific conferences. This programme is designed to prepare you for a successful career as a critical care researcher.

This position is managed by a joint selection committee comprising representatives from Amsterdam UMC and the Reinier Haga Medical Diagnostic Center. Both institutions will review all applications.

During the publication period, applications will be handled continuously. If the vacancy is filled, it will be closed prematurely.

If you have any questions about this position, please feel free to contact us, at bio-micro@amsterdamumc.nl.

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Chey Edwards, recruitment advisor, at c.i.edwards@amsterdamumc.nl.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy will not be considered.