PhD Candidate in Computational Cardiology

Virtually optimize pacemaker settings using Digital Twin technology, like F1 teams use simulators. Excited about heart simulations in healthcare? Read on!

Job Description

Are you excited about the role of personalized computer simulations in transforming clinical care? As a PhD candidate, you will develop innovative methods to virtually optimize pacemaker settings to the needs of the patient’s heart using Digital Twin technology—just as Formula 1 teams use simulators to enhance race performance. Through the development of Digital Twins of patients’ hearts, based on baseline data from a multicentre clinical study, you will create computational models that can predict how different pacing strategies will change a patient’s cardiac pump function. This innovative approach aims to optimize pacemaker settings before device implantation, potentially transforming how we personalize cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and conduction system pacing for heart failure patients.

Your research will leverage advanced computational modelling and simulation to investigate the complex interplay between cardiac electrical activation, mechanical function, and therapeutic outcomes. Through these virtual experiments, you will analyse electrical resynchronization patterns, hemodynamic performance, and how various cardiac conditions - including conduction disorders, mechanical dysfunction, structural diseases, and comorbidities - affect treatment outcomes.

This interdisciplinary project combines cardiac physiology, biomedical engineering, and clinical cardiology in a way that could reshape future clinical care. Working with state-of-the-art computational models of the human heart and circulation, you will investigate fundamental mechanisms underlying the patient’s response to conventional and innovative pacing therapies. Additionally, you will explore the role of non-invasive imaging techniques in predicting and optimizing therapy response, bridging the gap between virtual simulations and clinical application.

Your project will be embedded within the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM, www.carimmaastricht.nl), part of the Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences at Maastricht University. Your appointment will be with the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, a diverse department hosting people from countries all over the world, including Belgium, Croatia, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, and Sudan, and is committed to creating an open, team science environment. 

Requirements
Success in this project will rely on collaboration and perseverance, uniting biomedical engineering, clinical cardiology, and industry. You should have:

• A Master’s degree in (Biomedical or Mechanical) Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field.
• Interest in cardiovascular physiology, biophysics, and computational modelling.
• A strong desire to learn and collaborate across fields.

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 €2901,00 and €3707,00 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 Joost Lumens at joost.lumens@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information.

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD Candidate? Apply now, no later than November 24, 2024, for this position.

An orientation day can be part of the application procedure.

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.