PhD-candidate position: "Imaging of blood-brain barrier leakage as a prediction for post-stroke epilepsy"

Patients who had a recent cerebrovascular accident not only suffer from their stroke but also are more likely to develop epileptic seizures which further worsens their condition. In clinical practice, neurologists often struggle to identify patients who are at higher risk for seizures, moreover, preventive treatment with anti-epileptic drugs to prevent a first seizure remains controversial. Therefore, an early diagnostic test that predicts who and who will not develop seizures is highly desired. With the current medical research project we aim to unravel some of the complex disease mechanisms underlying post-stroke epilepsy and also make important steps towards such a diagnostic test.

Candidates’ work aims to tailor and apply innovative 3 Tesla MRI techniques yielding quantitative markers of blood-brain barrier leakage. These imaging techniques will be applied to patients with a recent stroke and findings will be related to the risk of developing epilepsy. The candidate will be involved in the recruitment of subjects and the MRI measurements, hence excellent skills in Dutch are an absolute requirement. The candidate will analyze and interpret the data, disseminate the results as research articles in scientific journals, followed by writing a PhD thesis.

You are a highly motivated technological innovator with a team spirit. You are able to work in the interactive field of technological innovation and medicine with challenging complex problems, and highly skilled in Dutch and English. You have excellent communicative and organizational competencies, and an interest in vascular disorders and epilepsy. A M.Sc. degree is required in biomedical engineering, physics, computational science or other related fields. Affinity with MR imaging, data acquisition, data analysis, and a strong background in computer programming (e.g. Matlab) is required.

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 http://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 18,000 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.