PhD position: 'Neuroimaging in Psychiatry'

Are you ready to revolutionize depression treatment?
We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious PhD student to join our interdisciplinary team. As part of the groundbreaking BOOST Depression research project, you will contribute to an innovative approach that aims to make depression treatments more personalized and effective (BiOmarkers tO perSonalise Treatment of depression).

Job Description
As a PhD student within the BOOST Depression project, you will contribute to cutting-edge research aimed at improving the treatment of depression. The BOOST Depression consortium is a large-scale, multi-center initiative funded by the Dutch Research Council. Your primary responsibility will be to collect and analyze neuroimaging and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data to identify biomarkers that predict treatment success. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, you will work toward optimizing treatment selection, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. You will be actively involved in data collection from approximately 200 patients, conducting MRI and EEG measurements, administering questionnaires, and gathering biological samples for genetic and epigenetic analysis. This project provides a unique opportunity to develop expertise in neuroimaging analysis and machine learning, with comprehensive training and support provided throughout the PhD trajectory.

You will become part of the Affective Neuroscience research group of Prof K.R.J. Schruers. Supervisors will be Prof Koen Schruers, Prof Jaap Jansen (Professor of clinical neuroimaging at MUMC+ and TU/e) and Dr. Liesbet Goossens (Affective Neuroscience Lab MUMC+). You will collaborate closely with other researchers at Maastricht University, Maastricht UMC+, and Mondriaan GGZ. This interdisciplinary team brings together experts in neuroimaging, psychiatry, and artificial intelligence to develop predictive biomarkers for depression treatment. Your research will be embedded in a dynamic and supportive environment, where you will have ample opportunities for professional development, scientific exchange, and collaboration with both academic and clinical partners.

Your key responsibilities and tasks will be:

• Data collection - Conduct MRI and EEG measurements, administer questionnaires and ecological momentary assessment (EMA), collect DNA samples
• Analyses - Process neuroimaging datasets using machine learning and integrate ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data into a multimodal predictive model.
• Contribute to the scientific field - Write scientific manuscripts, present at conferences, engage with stakeholders and co-develop research projects
• Write and submit a PhD-thesis within the four-year project

Requirements
We are looking for highly motivated candidates who are collaborative and eager to engage with key stakeholders. Candidates demonstrate strong analytical and writing skills, showing the ability to process and communicate complex information effectively. Their curiosity about research methodology and open science practices drives them to experiment with new approaches. Additionally, they are adaptable, open to learning, and proactive in problem-solving and innovation.

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

• MSc degree in neuroscience, biomedical sciences, bioinformatics, psychology, or a related field
• Experience with data analysis using Python and/or Matlab (preferred)
• Experience with neuroimaging data analysis and/or machine learning (preferred)
• Proficiency in English and Dutch

What we offer
As PhD position: 'Neuroimaging in Psychiatry' 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 Prof Koen Schruers at koen.schruers@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information.

Applying?

Are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD-candidate? Apply now, no later than 15/05/2025 for this position.

The first interviews preferably take place on 16/05/2025. The second interviews will preferably be held on 02/06/2025.

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.