Postdoctoral Researcher in Quantitative MRI, Blood Biomarkers, and Lifestyle Intervention Effects in Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention

We are seeking a highly motivated and interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Researcher to join the project “Plasma p-tau217 biomarker enriched analyses in a multidomain AD prevention trial.” This project investigates how plasma p-tau217 -one of the most promising blood biomarkers for early Alzheimer’s disease (AD)- can improve the detection of at-risk individuals and help explain how lifestyle interventions influence brain health, vascular function, and cognition.

This position is embedded at the intersection of several leading groups at Radboud University and Radboudumc. Together, these groups offer a unique multidisciplinary environment at the forefront of AD prevention, aging research, cognitive neuroscience, and quantitative neuroimaging.

Position
You will work with the HELI study: a completed 6-month, multicentre, randomized lifestyle intervention in 100 older adults with modifiable AD risk factors. The goal is to combine blood biomarkers -including newly measured p-tau217- with advanced MRI measures (ASL, QSM) to understand who benefits most from lifestyle-based AD prevention.

You will contribute to high-impact translational research that informs future AD prevention trials, especially participant selection and mechanistic understanding of lifestyle interventions.

Flexible hybrid working is possible: data analysis and statistical work can be done remotely, with regular on-site meetings for team collaboration and integration with clinical and imaging experts.

Responsibilities

• Analyse plasma p-tau217 and other AD-related biomarkers to stratify participants into AD+ and AD− subgroups.
• Investigate how p-tau217 status modifies cognitive outcomes of the lifestyle intervention.
• Use longitudinal QSM and ASL MRI to study changes in cerebral blood flow, oxygen metabolism, and brain iron load (between baseline (0 months) and after 6 months).
• Work closely with specialists in geriatric medicine, cognitive aging, nutrition, and MRI to integrate datasets into a coherent mechanistic framework.
• Prepare manuscripts, present findings at international conferences, and contribute to grant proposals and new collaborations.

What makes this position attractive?

• Work at a European leader in AD prevention research, with access to a uniquely rich intervention dataset.
• Join a team combining clinical medicine, neuropsychology, nutrition, and quantitative imaging—a rare interdisciplinary environment.
• Contribute to urgent, high-impact questions about early detection and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Collaborate across institutes within the Donders Institute and Radboudumc, known for outstanding neuroscience and medical research.
• Engage with a vibrant international research network and opportunities for follow-up projects and career development.

This position offers the opportunity to understand how blood biomarkers and brain imaging can predict and track the impact of lifestyle on Alzheimer’s disease risk—paving the way for better-targeted prevention strategies.

We have obtained funding for a 2-year full time post-doc position, starting date between February 2 (earliest) and May 4 (latest) 2026.

To read more on the HELI study: doi: 10.2196/69814. For background on QSM and arterial spin labeling MRI, to derive brain iron concentration and quantify regional cerebral blood flow, brain metabolism and oxygen extraction, see Ayton et al. Brain 2017, Biondetti et al. Neuroimage 2023, and our own publications: Chan & Marques, 2021, Marques et al., 2010.

The ideal candidate has established experience in brain MRI imaging, preferably with experience in QSM and ASL. You also have statistical skills to perform multifactorial analyses. You can work independently but know when to ask for help or guidance. Your work attitude shows scientific integrity and helps maintain a work environment with social and psychological safety.

What you bring

• PhD in neuroscience, biomedical sciences, psychology, medical imaging, epidemiology, or related field.
• Experience with clinical or neuroimaging data analysis.
• Skills in statistics, programming (R, Python, or MATLAB), and preferably familiarity with MRI (ASL, QSM) or biomarker research.
• Strong motivation to work across disciplines and connect biological, imaging, and behavioral outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• A gross monthly salary between € 3.598 and € 5.669 (scale 10) for full-time employment (36 hours per week). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and, depending on the position, an allowance of 47% to 72% for working irregular hours.
• 176 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week.

Your main base will be the Research Department of Geriatric Medicine, located on the top floor in the new main builiding of the Radboudumc together with the clinical department. Our research group has two Research Group Leaders (Marcel Olde Rikkert and Jurgen Claassen) and three senior scientists, a post-doc, and a group of PhD candiates and research assistants. This group will provide you with a warm and social workbase, and it will expose you to various research methods and clinical research specific to dementia and ageing medicine.

For your research, you will also have access to the research facilities of the renowned Donders Institute for Cognitive Neuroimaging, which is just across the street from Radboudumc.

Your supervisors for this project will be dr Jurgen Claassen (Radboudumc, geriatrician, associate professor), dr José Marques, MRI researcher (Donders), prof. Esther Aarts (Donders, nutritional scientist and PI of the HELI study) and prof. Joukje Oosterman (Radboud University, neuropsychology).
All supervisors have also been involved in the HELI study.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where our research groups strive for innovative solutions that make impact on health and healthcare. We challenge the status quo to overcome current and future health challenges. Our goal is to shape the future of healthcare for generations to come. Our focus is on prevention, sustainability, and meaningful care, which we achieve through our in-depth understanding of disease mechanisms, clinical science, public health research, medical technology and data science. Our approach is centered on breakthroughs that can truly enhance personalized healthcare and public health.

At Radboudumc, a comprehensive range of research programs provide the compass for our research efforts. Each program has a clear goal, where collaboration within and outside our organization is highly valued. We integrate care, education and research in partnership with our patients to ensure that our research programs have significant impact on health and healthcare. We invite you to join us in our mission to create a healthy future for all.

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then send an email to Jurgen Claassen, associate professor, research group leader, geriatrician. Use the Apply button to submit your application.