The work will combine Basic and Clinical science by extracting coronary arteries, clean them (i.e. from calcification) and correct for pathologically remodeled vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) thereby avoiding coronary artery bypass grafting. Cleaning and optimizing coronary arteries will support revascularization of the ischemic heart and promote perfusion to tissue-engineering repaired cardiac tissue/valves. Furthermore, tissue engineered grafts of biomaterial engineering will be used for cellular seeding with tailored iSMCs to be able to revascularize ischemic cardiac tissue. This project within RegMed-XB holds promise in opening new opportunities to restore vascular integrity by removing and combat calcification, but also carries considerable novelty in the research field. We offer a position in one of the leading groups in the field of vascular disease with an excellent network of international collaborators and longstanding experience in translational science.

The candidate should have a biomedical or molecular biology background and interest in complex pathophysiology of vascular diseases. We are looking for a highly motivated person that should be dedicated to full time experimental research and have the potential to work both independently and within a translational team. The daily work is laboratory-based and includes a number of in vivo, in vitro and in situ molecular techniques used in modern laboratories. Knowledge on iPSC differentiation and CRISPR technology is welcome and previous practical experience in cell culture experimentation will be considered necessary. Additional experience in bioinformatics analyses and tissue processing will be assessed as highly meritorious.

The appointed person will be expected to plan, perform, analyze and interpret experimental results independently and within the Team, present at congresses, and participate in national/international collaboration networks. Willingness to work flexibly in order to achieve project demands and targets as agreed within a Team is necessary. Being able to organise and prioritise own work, as well as organising research within the project timetable is essential. Maintaining accurate and up to date records is necessary. Fluency in English is a requirement, knowledge of Dutch is not necessary but will be considered advantageous. Good social and analytical skills are essential.

Fixed-term contract: 2 years.

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 https://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.

School CD - CARIM

CARIM is one of the six schools of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) of Maastricht University and is embedded within the Maastricht University Medical Center+ (Maastricht UMC+). CARIM collaborates closely with the Heart+Vascular Center of Maastricht UMC+. CARIM is one of the largest cardiovascular research institutes in Europe, producing more than 500 scientific articles and approximately 40 PhD dissertations per year.

https://www.carimmaastricht.nl/?culture=en-GB