PhD candidate Risk-based prevention for melanoma skin cancer in the Netherlands

Job description

We are looking for a PhD candidate interested in developing and applying new methodologic strategies in melanoma skin cancer prevention research. During the PhD project, you will collect your own data and use existing databases to study causal factors and predictors for melanoma skin cancer development and prognosis. You will work within interdisciplinary teams, closely collaborating with the departments of Health Promotion, Methodology and Statistics, and Dermatology at the Maastricht UMC+.

Key responsibilities

• Active data collection.
• Working with large datasets of scientific data and real-world data.
• Preparing analysis plans and performing advanced statistical analysis.
• Scientific communication, such as writing scientific articles and giving presentations.
• Writing a PhD dissertation.

The PhD candidate will be supervised by members of the Department of Epidemiology at Maastricht University. The project is embedded within two research institutes of Maastricht University: Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI) and Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction (GROW).

The PhD candidate will also be involved in teaching activities within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, such as the Bachelor of Medicine, Health Sciences, and European Public Health.

Project background
Melanoma skin cancer is an invasive and life-threatening disease affecting an estimated 330,000 people worldwide in 2022, with an increasing incidence each year. Effective prevention is of major importance. A risk-based approach is preferred, targeting prevention strategies to persons at increased risk. However, the prediction of a person’s risk and the causal and contextual factors that impact the effectiveness of prevention strategies remain unclear.

Conducting randomized controlled trials to study the effectiveness of preventive interventions is not feasible, amongst others, due to the large timeframe from exposure until the development of the disease. In this project, therefore, novel epidemiological and statistical methods will be used to study causality and risk prediction of melanoma skin cancer using observational data.

Project aims

• To study causal and contextual factors contributing to melanoma skin cancer development.
• To validate and further develop prediction models for identifying persons at risk for melanoma skin cancer.
• To gain insight into current prevention practices by comparing available guidelines for prevention & screening with usual care of melanoma skin cancer.
• To study the cost-effectiveness of risk-based prevention for melanoma skin cancer.

Requirements

We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate with excellent Dutch communication skills, a curious attitude, perseverance, and resilience. Being able to plan and organize well is a requirement, as well as being a team player who easily connects with researchers and health professionals from other disciplines. The PhD candidate should have an affinity for epidemiology, especially advanced methods and statistical analysis, and view applying and advancing epidemiological methods as an exciting challenge. Affinity or prior experience with the topic melanoma skin cancer and cancer research is an advantage.

Qualifications

• A master’s degree in Epidemiology, Biomedical Sciences, Biostatistics, Arts-Klinisch Onderzoeker, Medicine, or a related field.
• Experience in working with R (or another relevant statistical software package).
• Excellent analytic and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Effective communication skills.
• Proficient in use of English language and good English writing skills.

What we offer
As PhD candidate Risk-based prevention for melanoma skin cancer in the Netherlands 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.

 
Department
Your place of employment is the Department of Epidemiology of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at Maastricht University.

The mission of the Department of Epidemiology is to improve human health and well-being through epidemiologic research and teaching. Our research and teaching aims to expand the knowledge base for evidence-based public health and medicine.

Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI)

CAPHRI works towards better health for everyone through innovative solutions for health care and public health care. CAPHRI builds bridges between science and society by conducting research with an inclusive and participatory approach. The research focuses on prevention and innovation ranging from public - and primary health care, to person-oriented long-term care.

Our research has a strong multidisciplinary approach with attention to local, regional, and global themes embedded in six research lines: Ageing and Long-Term Care; Creating Value-Based Health Care; Functioning, Participation and Rehabilitation; Health Inequities and Societal Participation; Optimising Patient Care; and Promoting Health and Personalised Care.

Working at CAPHRI means being engaged in an active and inspiring academic setting and making a real contribution to the improvement of care and public health. CAPHRI attracts top scientists from around the world and is known for its comprehensive PhD training programme for young talented scientists.

For more information about CAPHRI and the CAPHRI community, visit CAPHRI’s website here.

GROW – Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction

GROW focuses on research and teaching of genetic and cellular mechanisms, as well as environmental and lifestyle factors that underlie normal (embryonic and fetal) and abnormal (cancer) growth. The emphasis is on basic and translational research, aiming at innovative approaches for individualizing prevention, patient diagnosis, and treatment for genetically determined diseases and cancer.

GROW has two divisions: Oncology and Reproduction. The Oncology division focuses on promoting survival with preservation of function. That is, to prevent cancer, improve cancer diagnosis, increase survival rates of cancer patients, improve the quality of life and maintain optimal functional abilities of cancer patients. We look beyond survival and aim to achieve preservation and/or restoration of all functions determining health, being bodily functions, mental wellbeing, daily functioning, social participation, meaning and quality of life. We perform translational research covering the complete spectrum of cancer management from prevention to aftercare.

For more information about GROW and the GROW community, visit GROW’s website here.

Curious?

Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact dr. Audrey Meulendijks (am.meulendijks@maastrichtuniversity.nl / +31 (0)43 388 2418) for more information.

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD candidate Risk-based prevention for melanoma skin cancer in the Netherlands? Apply now, no later than January 8, 2025, for this position. Candidates can expect to hear from us within two weeks after the deadline for applications. Interviews will be scheduled with selected candidates. The interviews will take place in December/January.

The application should contain:

• Cover letter with clear motivation for the PhD position
• CV

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.