PhD Candidate - Reducing the Environmental Impact of Medication Use

Welcome to Maastricht University
Join our multidisciplinary research team at Maastricht UMC+ and CARIM to tackle one of healthcare’s most pressing sustainability challenges: minimising pharmaceutical residues and medication waste to protect our environment and preserve drinking water quality.
 

PhD Candidate – Reducing the Environmental Impact of Medication Use

Job Description
This PhD project is part of the MUMC+ innovation budget initiative “Reducing the Environmental Impact of Medication Use”, embedded in the Dutch Green Deal Sustainable Healthcare 3.0, which includes a dedicated pillar on minimizing the environmental footprint of pharmaceuticals. You will investigate and implement solutions to reduce medication waste across the entire pharmaceutical pathway in hospitals, focusing on preventing pharmaceutical residues from entering wastewater, and designing sustainable interventions for high-emission clinical departments. 

• Our goal: This PhD project has two main goals: (1) to develop knowledge on the magnitude and key hotspots of the problem, given the current limited evidence, and (2) to gain insight into how this problem can be effectively addressed. Research activities include environmental monitoring, clinical data analysis, evaluating advanced filtration technologies, and behavioural and implementation studies on changing clinical practice to reduce the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals.
• Your colleagues: You will be based at the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine and the CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, working closely with pharmacy, surgery, sustainability, and external partners such as water authorities. You will be part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary team under the daily supervision of Dr. F.M. Zijta.  

What will you do?
As a PhD candidate, you will:

• Design and conduct research on medication (waste) and environmental impact.
• Analyse clinical, pharmaceutical (e.g., prescription data) and environmental datasets (e.g., pharmaceuticals in water samples).
• Develop and evaluate mitigation strategies, including hospital wastewater treatment solutions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary hospital teams and external partners.
• Publish findings in high-impact scientific journals and present at conferences.
• Translate research results into practical recommendations for clinical practice.
• Contribute to sustainability awareness and policy development at MUMC+, with potential impact on national and international guidelines.
• Participate in PhD training and educational activities via the CARIM Graduate School.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for a motivated researcher who combines scientific curiosity with a passion for sustainability in healthcare. You can work independently and collaboratively, communicate effectively across disciplines, and manage complex projects from concept to implementation. 

You have; 

• A Master’s degree in medicine, pharmacy, biomedical sciences or related field.
• Proven affinity with sustainability in healthcare or environmental sciences.
• Experience with quantitative research methods and data analysis.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary, international team.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English (Dutch is an advantage).
• Strong academic writing skills and experience in scientific publishing is preferred.
• Project management skills for complex, multi-stakeholder research.
• Willingness to work in both clinical and laboratory/field settings.

Are you ready to make healthcare more sustainable and protect our environment? Then we’d love to meet you.

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

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale P according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €3059,00 and €3881,00 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 apply.
• 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. 
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, 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 labor 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 are not solely focused on recovery, but place a strong emphasis on prevention, health preservation, and health promotion. Our aim is to use our knowledge and expertise to genuinely contribute to the well-being of individual people as well as society in total. 

In, research, and healthcare, FHML is closely collaborating with the academic hospital in Maastricht, together forming the Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+).  FHML is strongly connected in education, research, and care with the Maastricht academic hospital, together with which it forms the Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+). 

FHML, which is the largest faculty of Maastricht University, is formed by an (inter)national community of employees and students. The faculty offers a wide range of Dutch and English-taught bachelor's and master's programs in innovative educational concepts in which the emphasis is always on building bridges to practice.
 

The multidisciplinary research of the FHML focuses on a number of carefully chosen topical current themes. In addition to research aimed at gaining new insights, it also concerns research whose results can be directly translated into concrete applications and innovations. The implementation of the various research programs is organized in our six graduate schools and two institutes.

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Dr. F.M (Frank) Zijta via the research coordinator of the Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Department: Yvonne Op den Kamp-Bruls (yvonne.bruls@mumc.nl). 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD Candidate - Reducing the Environmental Impact of Medication Use? Apply now, no later than 09/21/2025, for this position. Please upload your CV (including contact details of at least two references), motivation letter, and potential reference letters. 

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.