PhD candidate | Department Human Biology

PhD candidate for the project: Lifestyle interventions to improve glucose homeostasis: moving beyond the one-size-fits-all approach.

Job Description

Project description
Insulin resistance is a key factor in the development of obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases. An imperative problem is that current (lifestyle) interventions are not always effective in improving insulin sensitivity and  cardiometabolic health in people with obesity. Therefore, it is important to evaluate treatment responses in an early stage. Measuring metabolic responses is promising to provide early efficacy markers. To this end, this project involves the conduction of a combined lifestyle intervention and the development and application of a novel ultra-high field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) method to measure early tissue metabolic biomarkers predicting the metabolic (non-)response to lifestyle interventions in individuals with overweight/obesity characterized by predominant skeletal muscle insulin resistance or predominant liver insulin resistance.

Role Description
The PhD candidate will:

• Study relevant literature in the field of obesity, metabolism and lifestyle interventions;
• Work out the details of the project proposal and obtain medical ethical approval;
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of researchers to develop an ultra-high field MRI method to measure early tissue metabolic biomarkers;
• Plan, coordinate and perform a human lifestyle intervention study;
• Perform biochemical lab analyses, MRI-image analyses and accompanying data analyses.

Main Tasks and responsibilities
We offer a challenging PhD research project and we ask for a highly motivated PhD candidate with a strong background, interest, and affinity for academic research in the area of lifestyle interventions and metabolic health in obesity to further strengthen our research group. While a strong background in MRI is not necessarily required, some experience is preferred. The candidate will be responsible for:

• Contributing to the full project plan (under supervision).
• Seting up the ultra-high field MRI protocol to measure early tissue metabolic biomarkers (in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team).
• Seting up and executing a human intervention study (writing protocol for ethical clearance, practical preparation for research, patient recruitment, planning and execution of test days, data handling and analysis).
• Preparing progress reports, writing high-quality papers to be published in international peer-reviewed journals (under supervision), and present research outcomes at national and international conferences.
• Actively contributing to other research activities within the larger research group.
• Seting up and/or maintaining collaborations with other partners.
• Keeping up with the relevant scientific literature within the field of study.
• Supervising of research assistants and students, where appropriate.
• Completing a PhD thesis in 4 years.

Requirements
Candidates should hold a Master degree (MSc) in a relevant field (e.g. biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, medicine, health sciences, nutrition or movement sciences.
Demonstrated research affinity and interest in the areas of lifestyle interventions, metabolism and obesity, and medical imaging is a preference. The preferred candidate is a team player with excellent organisation, collaboration and communication skills, including including speaking Dutch and English fluently. The candidate should have a strong drive to participate in in vivo human research on the impact of lifestyle interventions on cardiometabolic health in people with obesity.

What we offer
As PhD candidate at the 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 PhD according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2872,00 in the first year and €3670,00 gross per month in the fourth year (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. 
• Each year an evaluation will take place.
• 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.

 
Department

The Department of Human Biology is part of the Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), within the Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) of Maastricht University. The central research theme of the Department of Human Biology is Healthy Living with Obesity, Sarcopenia, Energy metabolism and Cardiometabolic Health as spearheads.

NUTRIM - Research Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism is part of the Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences of the Maastricht University. NUTRIM catalyses translational research into metabolic and chronic inflammatory disorders, and aims to contribute to health maintenance and personalized medicine by unraveling lifestyle and disease-induced derangements in metabolism, and by developing targeted nutritional, exercise and drug interventions. Within NUTRIM, approximately 400 scientists including 245 PhD students, and an additional 70 support staff members work interdisciplinary together in 16 Biomedical, clinical, and behavioral-science departments. Through its PhD programme, NUTRIM aims to educate investigators of high scientific excellence and ambassadors to support and develop the field of nutrition and translational research in metabolism within and outside the Netherlands. NUTRIM is partner within unique consortia in which academia, industry and the government join forces to stimulate the transfer of knowledge generated in fundamental  research to Dutch industry, thereby strengthening its innovative power and competitive strength.

For more information (NUTRIM website):
htps://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/school-nutrition-and-translational-researchmetabolism

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Prof. Dr. Gijs H. Goossens at G.Goossens@maastrichtuniversity.nl or Prof. Dr. Jeanine Prompers at Jeanine.Prompers@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD candidate? Apply now, no later than September 8th, 2024, for this position.

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.