PhD Candidate Neuroimaging in Epilepsy

Welcome to Maastricht Univeristy!
Are you ready to revolutionize epilepsy treatment?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious PhD student to join our interdisciplinary team. You will contribute to an innovative approach that aims to identify predictive bio-markers of epilepsy treatment.

PhD Candidate Neuroimaging in Epilepsy

• Our goal: to leverage advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques (including functional MRI to assess brain network metrics and MR spectroscopy to measure neurotransmitters levels) to identify predictive bio-markers that could differentiate responders from non-responders. Such novel bio-markers would be a very valuable tool for the treatment of complex epilepsy.
• Your colleagues: You will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment that bridges Maastricht University, the Academic Center for Epileptology, and the Kempenhaeghe Expertise Centre for Epilepsy (Heeze). Your research will be embedded in a dynamic and supportive environment, where you will have ample opportunities for professional development, scientific exchange, and collaboration with both academic and clinical partners.

Patients with epilepsy are typically treated with anti-seizure medication (ASM). However, ASM treatment does not always achieve a reduction of seizures. Treatment failure is associated with a decreased quality of life and is an important predictor of pharmaco-resistance, which signifies a considerable burden on patients, caregivers, and society. In this project, we aim to leverage advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques (including functional MRI to assess brain network metrics and MR spectroscopy to measure neurotransmitters levels) to identify predictive bio-markers that could differentiate responders from non-responders. Such novel bio-markers would be a very valuable tool for the treatment of complex epilepsy.

We invite applications for 1 PhD position in clinical neuroimaging at the Radiology & Nuclear Medicine department of the Maastricht University Medical Centre, in close collaboration with the Academic Center for Epileptology and Kempenhaeghe Expertise Centre for Epilepsy (Heeze). The position is embedded in the Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute (MHeNS) of the Maastricht University. As a clinical PhD-student you will be coordinating a clinical MRI study with patients with epilepsy, which involves obtaining ethical approval, subject recruitment, administration of neuropsychological tests, drawing of blood, and planning of follow up assessments, and interpreting results. You will be working in a stimulating interdisciplinary biomedical research team, including neurologists, clinical neurophysiologists, MRI scientists, imaging engineers, physicists, neuroradiologists, as well as patients and industry representatives. Importantly, you will be collaborating with a technical PhD student, who is responsible for the technical aspects of this imaging study.

What you do

• Data collection – Include patients, conduct MRI measurements, administer cognitive tests, collaborate with a software engineer to create a smartphone app
• Analyses – Follow up patients and process neuroimaging and cognitive data.
• Contribute to the scientific field - Write scientific manuscripts, present at conferences, engage with stakeholders and co-develop research projects
• Write and submit a PhD-thesis within the four-year project

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you. 

What you bring 
We’re not looking for checkboxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

• MSc degree in neuroscience, biomedical sciences, psychology, medicine, or a related field
• Experience in working with patients with neurological disorders (preferred)
• Experience with data analysis using Python and/or Matlab (preferred)
• Experience with neuroimaging data analysis (preferred)
• Proficiency in English and Dutch (as the project involves direct communication with patients and hospital employees)

What we offer
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer: 

• A 12-month contract with the prospect of a 3 year extension, based on mutual satisfaction. 
• A gross monthly salary between €3.059 and €3.881 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus. 
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours. 
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home. 
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas. 
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with. 
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities. 
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe. 

About the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
FHML is committed to health in the broadest sense: from molecule to human, and from healthcare to prevention. We train healthcare professionals and researchers through innovative educational programmes and conduct groundbreaking research in health and well-being. As part of Maastricht UMC+ (MUMC+), our international and interdisciplinary community forms a unique collaboration between university and academic hospital, where education, research, and care come together.

Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute
MHeNS is one of the internationally leading institutes on neuroscience research, and aims at advancing our understanding of brain-behavior relationships by adopting an integrated approach between the various disciplines in neuro- and behavioral science, medicine and the life sciences. The project fits into the research lines ‘Imaging’ and the clinical theme ‘Cognition’ of the Brain Nerve Center of the MUMC.

Neuroplatform
NeuroPlatform is a multidisciplinary brain research program hosted by TU/e, involving academic (including Maastricht UMC), clinical (including Kempenhaeghe), and commercial partners (including Philips) from both the Netherlands and Belgium. It combines technical and medical expertise to get the most out of dedicated research, and carry out joint projects around topics of Neurology, Neuropsychiatry and Ageing. Its approach is based on the assumption that technological solutions are possible for the described clinical challenges and that close collaboration between technical and clinical partners is essential to keep research as relevant and aligned with clinical needs as possible. This dual approach (technical/clinical) is apparent at all levels of its team (management, scientific supervision, PhD students).

Academic Center for Epileptology Kempenhaeghe & MUMC (ACE)
ACE is a collaboration between Kempenhaeghe and Maastricht UMC+ and an expert in epilepsy care in the south of the Netherlands. Top clinical diagnostic and therapeutic care is delivered within an interdisciplinary team of (amongst others) (pediatric) neurologists, clinical neurophysiologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and psychologists. Clinics are located at Heeze, Breda and several other outpatient locations. At ACE, neurology residents are trained in the field of epilepsy. Extensive facilities are present for the advanced diagnostic tools, ranging from structural imaging with MRI to a laboratory. The department of clinical neurophysiology performs ambulant as well as clinical electroencephalography (EEG) for epilepsy diagnosis and for pre-surgical epilepsy surgery assessment.

Clinical Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging and in particular neurovascular imaging is a special area interest of research in the Neuroplatform. The neuroimaging research line of prof.dr. Jansen at the Maastricht UMC and TU/e focuses on state-of-the-art clinical neuroscience using advanced neurovascular and microstructural imaging techniques. The research has been published in a wide spectrum of leading academic journals, including the Lancet Neurology, Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Neurology, Radiology, Cerebral Cortex, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, Neuroimage, NMR in Biomedicine, and Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Interested?
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to prof.dr. Jaap Jansen (e: jacobus.jansen@mumc.nl, p: +31(0)433874909), dr. Ilse van Straaten (e: StraatenI@kempenhaeghe.nl), or dr.ir. Gerald Drenthen (e: g.drenthen@maastrichtuniversity.nl). You can also apply directly using the button below.   

We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.