At CTR, we are looking for:

A PhD Candidate in the field of peripheral nerve and immune cell interactions within a 3D in vitro oviduct model (PhD 1)

The PhD Candidate will engage in the development and assessment of a humanized 3D in vitro platform that combines peripheral neurons with innate and adaptive immune cells. This is within the context of an in vitro oviduct model, looking at neuro-immune interactions as this tissue responds to infection and damage, with the prospective of investigating peripheral neuron-immune interactions within other tissues. The student will engage in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) culture, neural differentiation, and immune cell differentiation and culture. Other activities include applying biofabrication technologies to create 3D in vitro environments and fluidic culture devices, the application of different biochemical and molecular assays to monitor immune response and the onset of fibrosis, and a particular focus on applying (multiphoton) microscopy to visualize dynamic cell behaviour within 3D cell culture platforms.

The candidate will have a proven outstanding record to be part of an exceptionally skilled team that is being assembled thanks to recent European funding secured by the department. The work will suit highly ambitious candidates, who like to solve problems, and are at ease with timely deadlines, who like a fast-paced, but friendly and collaborative international environment with new challenges and opportunities for growth. The candidate is expected to disseminate the results through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences.

Candidates for the PhD position in the field of peripheral nerve-immune cell interactions and 3D in vitro models (PhD 1) should have a M.Sc. degree in either biofabrication, regenerative medicine, biomedical sciences, or applied biology, with already proven experience in cell culture, in particular in 3D culture systems (e.g. hydrogels). Past experience with IPSCs and IPSC-derived neurons or differentiation and characterization of immune cells will be a strong addition. Excellent and proven knowledge of scientific English, both in speaking, reading, and writing is required.

Fixed-term contract: 1 + 3 years.

As a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, you will be employed by the most international university of the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is in grated in scale P according to the UFO profile PhD Candidate, with corresponding salary ranging from € 2.541,- to € 3.247,- gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus are applicable.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1.0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow.
• As a holder of the 'Family-friendly University' quality mark, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, Click here

Maastricht University

Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.  

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM.

Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences

At the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), everything revolves around healthy living. Our research and education focuses not only on recovery, but also on prevention, health maintenance and health promotion. Our mission is to use our knowledge and expertise to bring about healthy lives for individuals and for society as a whole. FHML works closely in education, research and healthcare provision with the Maastricht academic hospital, together with which it forms the Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+).

The largest faculty at Maastricht University, FHML is home to an international community of staff and students. We offer a wide range of Dutch- and English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes, using innovative educational concepts and building bridges to practice.

Research at FHML is multidisciplinary and revolves around select, topical themes. It encompasses the full spectrum, from fundamental research aiming to gain new insights to research whose results translate directly into concrete applications and innovations. The various research programmes are organised into our six graduate schools and two research institutes.

Research in the MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine focuses on the development of new and challenging technologies for the repair of damaged organs and tissues. Within MERLN, the CTR department (https://merlninstitute.com/discover-merln/departments-and-groups/ctr-department) has particular emphasis on advanced macro, micro and nanobiofabrication technologies developed and combined with fundamental knowledge of (developmental) biology to design and engineer complex tissues and organs. Potential applications of such constructs are in stem cell research, tissue regeneration, developmental biology, and complex 3D in vitro models for pharmaceutical or toxicological screening. 

Research Environment

Research at CTR is driven by technology development for the fabrication and assessment of biological constructs. The resources and technologies at the department for these activities include:

• • Additive manufacturing technologies for building functional 3D scaffolds, such as 3D fiber deposition, bioprinting, and digital light processing;
• Engineering of artificial cellular microenvironments and of in vitro 3D tissue and organ analogues by new biomaterial formulations (e.g. hydrogels);
• Fluidic organ-on-chip technologies, including fluidic chip design, fabrication, assembly and the design and implementation of perfusion systems
• Advanced microscopy, including multiphoton, confocal, and widefield fluorescence microscopy with advanced capabilities regarding automatic live cell imaging, real-time image analysis and adaptive acquisition
• A wide range of biochemical, protein, and genomic assays and tools for analysis and modification of cell behaviour. This includes, but not limited to, RT-PCR, Western blot, metabolic assays, plasmid development and reporter cell line generation.