PhD candidate - Medical image analysis and AI in hemostasis reseach

Welcome to Maastricht University!

Would you like to use artificial intelligence to advance medical research and diagnostics? In this innovative research project at Maastricht University, you will develop AI solutions that automate the analysis of microscopic images and contribute to improving the diagnosis of bleeding and coagulation disorders. You will work at the intersection of biomedical science, data science, and clinical applications.

PhD candidate – Medical image analysis and AI in hemostasis reseach

• Our goal: to develop an automated, high-throughput analysis pipeline for flow chamber images using artificial intelligence. By doing so, we aim to accelerate, standardize, and further improve the analysis of thrombus formation under flow conditions for both scientific research and future clinical applications. The generated data will be used to study clinically relevant hemostatic phenotypes, treatment effects, and the potential value of flow chamber testing in patients with bleeding disorders.
• Your colleagues: you will become part of the Department of Biochemistry within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), and work closely with the Central Diagnostic Laboratory (CDL) of Maastricht UMC+. You will join a multidisciplinary team of researchers, laboratory analysts, clinical chemists, hematologists, data scientists, and IT specialists.

You will play a central role in developing AI methods for the automated analysis of images generated by the Maastricht Flow Chamber. This will be the primary focus of your research. The Maastricht Flow Chamber is a technology that enables real-time visualization and analysis of thrombus formation under physiological flow conditions. Curious to learn more about this technique? Watch the short video, "Let it flow: what flowing blood is telling us about blood clotting":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m22Mw7HQ7tA. You will also apply similar AI- and data-driven approaches to other biomedical datasets, contributing to a broader research programme covering methodological development, medication studies, and clinical translation, as well as to progress reports and scientific publications.

What you do

• Analyze the current (semi-)automated image and data analysis workflow of the Maastricht Flow Chamber and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop AI models for the automated segmentation, quantification, and classification of flow chamber images, using deep learning and self-supervised techniques that also leverage unlabeled data.
• Automate the processing and analysis of large datasets generated from flow chamber experiments.
• Validate the developed AI models and translate them into a robust high-throughput analysis method that aligns with clinical questions in hematology, such as the diagnosis of unexplained bleeding and clotting disorders.
• Depending on the progress of the project, apply similar data science and AI methods to other complex laboratory datasets in the field of hemostasis and thrombosis.
• Collaborate closely with laboratory researchers, clinicians, and data scientists to integrate imaging results with clinical and laboratory data and help translate these findings into clinically relevant conclusions.
• Present your findings at national and international conferences and publish your work in leading international scientific journals.

What you bring 
At Maastricht University, we believe that talent comes in many forms. We are looking for a curious researcher with a strong affinity for artificial intelligence, medical image analysis, and data science, who enjoys bridging computational methods and clinical applications. Do you recognize yourself in the following?

• You hold a completed Master's degree, preferably in biomedical engineering, biomedical sciences, medicine, systems biology, clinical health sciences, (clinical) data science, bioinformatics, or a related discipline.
• You have a demonstrated affinity for data analysis and programming (e.g. Python or R), e.g. via projects, internships or other work experience where you’ve analysed datasets. Experience with machine learning, deep learning (e.g. scikit-learn, TensorFlow or PyTorch), or medical image analysis (e.g. segmentation or classification) is considered a strong advantage.
• You have a clear interest in hemostasis, thrombosis, and laboratory medicine, and understand that successful AI solutions start with a thorough understanding of the underlying clinical problem. Prior experience in these fields is not required, but you should be motivated to develop the necessary biological and clinical understanding.
• You possess excellent communication skills in English, written and spoken. Proficiency in Dutch is a strong advantage.
• You are independent, curious, and proactive, while also enjoying working in multidisciplinary teams with researchers, clinical chemists, medical specialists, IT professionals, and other healthcare professionals.

This position is essentially a PhD position. At the same time, we are open to strong candidates with a relevant AI/data science background who are not necessarily looking to pursue a PhD track, such as experienced data scientists or AI engineers. In that case, the role can be discussed as a research-oriented position within the same project.

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

• A one-year employment contract (1.0 FTE), which will be extended by three additional years upon satisfactory performance.
• A gross monthly salary between € 3.204 en € 4.051 (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.

Interested? 
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Please contact Judith Cosemans at judith.cosemans@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

The application deadline is September 20th 2026.

When applying, we ask you to include the following documents:

-Your CV
-A brief motivation letter
-Your academic transcript

The first interview may include a short presentation and a tour. If necessary, a second round of interviews will follow.

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.