The Department of Anesthesiology embedded in the Hersen Zenuw Centrum (HZC) / School for Mental Health and Neurosciences (MHeNs) at Maastricht University (UM) is offering a position for a post-doc clinician or a preclinical researcher on research focused on the genetics and genomics of pain and its comorbidities, particularly predictors of peri- and postoperative pain. The Dept. Anesthesiology has a long tradition in cutting edge research on prediction, prevalence and treatment of (chronic) postoperative pain. Recent developments in genomics and analysis of clinical pain cohorts has allowed to collect first data on the role of mutations and use in the prediction of chronic postoperative pain (Hoofwijk et al., Scand J.Anesthesia (2019) 63: 1063-1073; van Reij et al., Anaesthesia (2020) 75 Suppl.e111-e120; van Reij et al. (2020) Neurogenetics 21 205-215). These new insights may also result in the development of new targets for pharmacogenetic treatment of peri-operative pain (van Reij et al.(2019) BJA 123(6) 853-64). The research will be at the crossroad of vertical line “Pain” and the horizontal line “Genetics and cell biology” of the HZC and school MHeNs (https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/mhens/research/research-theme-cellbiology-and-genetics/pain-0).

In a broader perspective, the candidate will follow up initiatives from Dept. of Anesthesiology MUMC+ with Radboud University Hospital Nijmegen Dept. Anesthesiology (Prof. Scheffer) to create a large network with partners in Germany (Munster, Prof. Pogatszki) and Italy (Parma, Prof. Allegri) in preparation for national and European funding applications.

As pain is closely interlinked with depression, anxiety and stress these co-morbidities will open interesting options to further extend and integrate research within HZC and departments of Anesthesiology, Psychiatry & Neuropsychology and Neurology. The candidate should play a pivotal role in this.

The candidate preferably has:

• A master’s degree in medicine or biomedical neuroscience and a PhD in the field of (pharmaco)-genomics and pain, with strong interests in clinical/ translational research.
• Shown expertise in Omics, pharmacology and Pain, for example GWAS and dataanalysis, proteomics, polygenic risk scores, machine learning and big data management. Additional expertise in the field of epigenetics is an advantage.​​​

Fixed-term contract: 2 years.

The position is temporary for the duration of 2 years. Depending on experience and qualification, the maximum gross monthly salary is € 4.402,- in accordance with scale 10.

Expected start: summer 2021. Duration 2 years. Candidates will be facilitated in the submission of personal grant applications (e.g. NWO “VENI”).

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 20,000 students and 4,700 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.
For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl.

Information about the School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, see website: https://mhens.mumc.maastrichtuniversity.nl/