Overweight is threatening global public health, among others by increasing risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We are looking for a postdoctoral investigator for our research into impaired organ blood flow in overweight and type 2 diabetes, with a focus on changes in fat tissue functioning within organs.

Fat tissue plays a central role in regulation of metabolism, organ function and cardiovascular disease. In overweight subjects, adipose tissue is a driver of glucose uptake as well as failure of organs such as the heart, skeletal muscles and the kidneys. Adipose tissue depots show large biological differences, and the relationship between different depots and diabetes and cardiovascular diseases is unclear. Organ fat tissue, most situated around the organ vasculature (perivascular fat or PVAT), shows a strong relation to organ failure but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.

The research will focus on the causes of adipose tissue formation and dysfunction in organs, particularly impairment of organ blood flow and metabolism. In addition, the phenotype of dysfunctional PVAT will be characterized in different disease conditions. For this research within the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) we are looking for a postdoctoral investigator. The research will be translational, on human tissues as well as (animal)models for overweight. The goal of the research line is development of new methodology for preventing, diagnosing, and treating type 2 diabetes and organ failure.

The research is embedded in the university of Maastricht and the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CARIM). In addition, the research will take place in (inter)local, national and international networks in research on diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and these networks are readily available to the investigator.

In addition to the design, conduction and publication of research the investigator is expected to develop personally and to contribute to the development of the research group.  This contribution will consist of supervision of PhD and MSc students and (co)writing of project grants. These tasks will be carried out in teams.

You have a Master’s degree in (medical) biology or similar and a PhD degree in diabetes, cardiovascular disease ar a related topic

You are driven, enthusiastic, thorough, creative and resourceful

You have experience in biochemical and molecular-biological techniques and in vivo phenotyping of mice

You work well individually and in teams

You have affinity with overweight- and diabetes-related diseases

Experience in microsurgery techniques is desirable

Fixed-term contract: period 36 months/3 years, with option for extension with 1 year.

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 www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

The position is temporary for the duration of 36 months, with option for extension with 1 year. Depending on experience and qualification, the gross monthly salary is scale 10 (min. € 2.790,- and max. € 4.402,-), based on a full-time appointment.

School CD - CARIM

With an annual budget of more than 20 M€, CARIM is one of the largest cardiovascular research institutes in Europe, producing more than 500 scientific articles and approximately 40 PhD dissertations per year. In the last ten years, CARIM papers were published in high impact journals such as Cell, JAMA, Nature Medicine, New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Circulation, and Lancet Neurology.

CARIM offers a very broad range of facilities covering the entire field of translational cardiovascular research and many internship opportunities, taking advantage of its connection with a large academic hospital. CARIM has an open and dynamic work culture in which talented and ambitious young people work side by side with renowned researchers and medical specialists. CARIM is an active research institute that enables its employees and provides support, such as assistance with applications for research grants and funding, a talent development programme and a Research Council, that reviews project proposals before they are submitted. CARIM provides a dynamic, critical learning environment, which proves to be fertile ground for top achievements in the field of cardiovascular research.

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+.