Maastricht UMC+

The academic hospital Maastricht (azM) and the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences of the Maastricht University together form the MUMC+, which serves the core tasks of excellent patient care, education, and scientific research.

Background

The Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology aims to improve mental health through integration of high-quality patient-care, research and education. The School of MHeNS investigates the causes, mechanisms, and treatments of mental disorders and diseases of the nervous and sensory systems. Starting with the pioneering work of de Vries and Delespaul in the 1980s, the use of intensive longitudinal data collection methods, such as the experience sampling method (ESM) – also known as ecological momentary assessment (EMA) – has been a cornerstone of the department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology for the past 35+ years. The department has also been at the forefront with respect to methodological developments (e.g., through the construction of custom-made devices for ESM research purposes) and novel applications (e.g., through the combination of ESM, neuroimaging, and genetic data, with particular emphasis on their interactions). Our research is conducted in close collaboration with the Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience and with several international imaging consortia. Our genetics and genomics research is supported by excellent in-house facilities for genetic and epigenetic analysis and bioinformatics, in close collaboration with the MUMC’s genetics departments and with several international consortia. Maastricht University is a the forefront of teaching, including methods such as problem based learning. Strong links exist with mental health care providers in the Maastricht region, regarding research as well as teaching activities., and with other departments in the University Medical Centre, within the Brain+Nerve Centre.

Tasks

• To lead a research programme on the development of the methodology and the application of innovative technologies including ESM that is aligned with the strategy of the School of MHeNS and the Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology of Maastricht University
• To teach and/or develop/coordinate teaching modules/courses , at the Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology at the faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
• To be proactive in funding applications to national and international funders
• To disseminate research findings regularly both to scientific (e.g., through conference presentations and articles in leading academic journals) and lay audiences
• To play an active role in the Department’s and School’s valorization and societal impact programme
• To contribute to the supervision and/or mentoring of PhD students and engage in active interdisciplinary collaborations within Maastricht University and with national and international partners
• To contribute to the School’s overall mission in excellent inter- and cross-disciplinary research and postgraduate education
• To represent the School on internal and external committees and take an active interest in new developments in research ethics and governance

Suitable candidates will have a PhD degree in (medical) engineering, psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, genetics, imaging, or another area related to the profile of the post, and several years of postdoctoral experience. We expect that candidates will have an established international track record (documented by publications in leading journals) related to the development or use of ESM or a similar technique in preferably mental health research. They should also have a strong background in relevant quantitative methodologies. We expect a research focus that is highly compatible with one of our existing programmes, but also that candidates will develop or establish new methodologies at Maastricht. We are committed to interdisciplinary work in clinical and translational neuroscience and expect candidates to share our interdisciplinary outlook. Clinical expertise is viewed as an asset, and affinity with the field of clinical psychiatry ishighly desirable.

Fluency in English is a prerequisite, and non-Dutch speaking applicants should be willing to learn Dutch (basic level). The candidate should be an enthusiastic teacher and have demonstrated ability in thesis supervision and teaching coordination roles. Experience with course development is an asset. The candidate is able to stimulate student learning and experience with teaching in international classrooms is preferable. The candidate is expected to be a team player, to have an open, effective management style, and be ready to fulfil an administrative role in the faculty.

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

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.