We invite applications for a PhD (1.0 fte) or Postdoc (1.0 fte) position in dementia research at the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, department of Epidemiology (University Medical Center Utrecht) (www.juliuscenter.nl), and the department of Internal Medicine at Maastricht University (www.maastrichtuniversity.nl). The position is embedded in the novel Netherlands Consortium of Dementia Cohorts, a unique project to unravel the etiology of dementia in order to find clues for primary prevention by performing pooled analyses of 9 ongoing prospective cohort studies on cognitive aging and dementia from the Netherlands.

The candidate will focus on cerebral microvascular pathology. He/she will investigate the contribution of various risk factors to the development of cerebral microvascular pathology, investigate whether microvascular pathology is associated with other biological substrates of dementia, including brain atrophy and altered brain connectivity, and investigate the role of microvascular pathology in the development of cognitive decline and dementia. Responsibilities of the selected candidate will include database handling, data analysis, writing and publishing manuscripts, and reporting results at local meetings and at (inter-) national conferences.

You are a highly motivated investigator with strong analytical and communication skills. You are able to work in the field of dementia, epidemiological cohort studies and have the basic understanding of brain imaging and vascular pathology. You have excellent communicative and organization competences. A MSc or PhD degree is required in (bio)medical science, neurosciences, neuropsychology, epidemiology or other related fields. Affinity with dementia research, magnetic resonance imaging and a background in epidemiologic data analysis is desirable. Experience with advanced data analyses (mediation analysis) is highly beneficial. The candidate will be appointed at either University Medical Center Utrecht or Maastricht University, but will spend at least one day per week at the other institute.

Fixed-term contract: 4 cq 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 www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

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 16,300 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.

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases

The Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), School for Cardiovascular Diseases, is one of the top institutes for translational cardiovascular research in Europe. It is among the world leaders in the fields of research into vascular and thrombotic disorders and atrial fibrillation as well as translational heart failure research. It has also made important international contributions to molecular imaging in the cardiovascular field.

With an annual budget of approximately 20 mln Euros in 2018, CARIM is one of the largest cardiovascular research institutes in Europe, producing more than 500 scientific articles and approximately 40 PhD dissertations per year. CARIM employs 250 researchers from 13 disciplines, about 100 PhD students and 40 technical and support staff members.

Over the last ten years, CARIM papers have been published in high-impact journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Nature Medicine, Nature Cell Biology, Cell Metabolism, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Circulation, Lancet Neurology, and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Bibliometric analyses illustrate that CARIM publications have been cited 1.97 times more often than the world average for the cardiovascular field in the period of 2009 until 2012.

CARIM is recognized by the KNAW as a research school and as an international training site for Early Stage Researchers in the framework of the Marie Curie Program.

Cardiovascular scientists from around the world join CARIM because it values open communication, close cooperation, high ambitions, good facilities and a critical learning environment.

Cardiovascular scientists from around the world join CARIM because it values open communication, close cooperation, high ambitions, good facilities and a critical learning environment. 

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