PhD Candidate Translational neuroscience to identify causality in panic attacks

Welcome to Maastricht University!
Are you excited to uncover how panic attacks arise in the brain?
We are looking for a curious and ambitious PhD student to perform research in humans and rodents to determine what triggers panic attacks at the biological level, and to pinpoint where in the brain these triggers originate.

PhD Candidate Translational neuroscience to identify causality in panic attacks

Our goal: As a PhD student, you will contribute to a cutting-edge translational research line aimed at identifying the molecular mechanisms that trigger panic attacks. The PhD project involves a human experimental study, a rodent study, behavioral testing, physiological assessments, and different molecular analyses to map which molecular mechanisms and brain regions drive panic attacks. This is a scientifically ambitious and methodologically diverse project, well suited for a candidate eager to fully immerse themselves in challenging and varied research tasks.

Your primary responsibility will be to collect and analyze behavioral and physiological data. You will be actively involved in data collection from approximately 200 healthy human participants, in whom you experimentally provoke a short-lasting panic attack and obtain questionnaire data and gather biological samples for epigenetic analysis. In the next phase, you will translate these findings into an experimental rodent model, manipulating specific molecular mechanisms in targeted brain regions in rodents, and testing the behavioral and physiological effects. There is also the possibility to gain some experience in cell culture. Altogether, this project provides a unique opportunity to develop expertise in translational research and a variety of techniques including epigenetic analyses, supported by comprehensive training throughout the PhD trajectory.

Your colleagues: You will be embedded in an interdisciplinary and collaborative team at the Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, under the supervision of Dr. Nicole Leibold (Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, research group Mechanisms of Affective Disorders). Throughout the project, you will work closely with other researchers at Maastricht University in a dynamic environment that offers ample opportunities for scientific growth, skill development, and collaborations.

What you do
Your key responsibilities and tasks will be:

• Human experimental study: Conducting a CO2-panic provocation test, administering questionnaires and measuring physiology, collecting DNA samples.
• Rodent experimental study: Performing manipulation of molecular mechanisms in the brain (requiring surgery), performing behavioral and physiological testing, collecting tissue.
• Analyses: Processing collected data and samples, which includes epigenetic assays.
• Contribute to the scientific field: Write scientific manuscripts and publish in peer-reviewed journals, present approach and results in the institute’s meetings and at (international) conferences, co-develop research projects.
• Training and supervision: Take an active role in teaching activities for students and supervising internships.
• PhD thesis: 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.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and committed candidate who is excited to work at the intersection of human neuroscience, animal research, and molecular biology. You thrive in a demanding research environment, enjoy tackling challenging scientific questions, and you are driven to master a broad range of experimental techniques with precision and perseverance. You enjoy learning new methods, working in an interdisciplinary team, and thinking critically about experimental design. Additionally, you are meticulous, flexible, eager to deepen your skills, and proactive in solving problems.

What you bring
Do you see yourself in the description above and meet the following requirements?

• Completed MSc degree in neuroscience, biomedical sciences, or a related field; or being in your last year of such a program.
• Experience in acquiring and analysing human behavioral and/or physiological data is a plus.
• Experience with animal work and/or completion of the Lab Animal Science course is a plus.
• You like working in a team and have excellent communication skills.
• Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English.

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

• A 12-month contract (1.0 FTE) with the prospect of a 3-year extension upon positive evaluation.
• A gross monthly salary between €3059,00 and €3881,00 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week), in accordance with the CAO NU, plus 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional public holidays, and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home, where the nature of your work allows it.
• A monthly commuting and internet allowance.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to extensive university sports facilities.
• A wide range of training programmes and initiatives supporting your personal and professional development.
• 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.

Interested?

Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Dr. Nicole Leibold at nicole.leibold@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information.
The end date of the publication is 25 March 2026. 

Please provide a motivation letter, a CV, and two potential references we could contact for more information. If you have not completed your master’s degree yet, please also provide an overview of your grades obtained during your master’s program and a reference of a staff member that is involved in the last part of your study program.

The first interviews take place on April 30 2026.

The approximate start date is 1 December 2026.

Apply now via 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.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

 
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.