Postdoc in patterns of physical activity and health

Are you passionate about understanding the relationship between physical activity and health? Do you enjoy detailed data analysis, and applying different analysis techniques? Do you want to contribute new knowledge that can be applied to  tailoring physical activity advice to individual needs? If so, then you should apply for this job. We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our interdisciplinary team. It is our aim to redefine what it means to have a healthy, active lifestyle; we welcome you on this adventure.

Job Description
From recent research we know that not only moderate-intensity activities improve health, but that reducing sitting is an important factor too. Yet health promoting guidelines still only focus on those activities. We believe that a healthy pattern of physical activity behaviour is determined by the combination of duration, frequency, and intensity of activities, and that multiple healthy combinations might exist for each individual or population. Unravelling what constitutes an optimal profile, might contribute to personalized physical activity behaviour recommendations, and thus enable tailored lifestyle coaching, with potentially larger and more sustainable effects on health. Funded by NWO, this project will aid the shift from the current approach ‘one physical activity guideline for all’ to an approach in which we promote an active lifestyle via tailoring ‘each determines their activity goals’.

For our team of movement, data, and health promotion scientists, we are looking for a postdoc to delve deeper into patterns of physical activity behaviour. Based on an ongoing descriptive systematic review by our research team about the definitions and calculations of currently used pattern characteristics, you will systematically review the relationship of these patterns characteristics with health markers. In a next step, you will analyse physical activity behaviour and health in detail in a large, existing cohort data set, applying Machine Learning techniques to handle the intricate structure and possible co-dependency of variables.
Alongside the postdoc project, a research line led by the PI focuses on the translation of patterns into lifestyle coaching. The postdoc and PI will collaborate to create and integrate the two lines of research.

Your key responsibility include:

• Perform and coordinate a systematic review examining the relationship between physical activity metrics and cardiometabolic health.
• Collaborate with a PhD student to create an overview of relevant physical activity pattern characteristics to study in detail in existing cohort data.
• Collaborate with PIs and a PhD student to program the data processing and calculations of physical activity pattern characteristics in cohort data.
• Statistical analyses of cohort data to study the association of physical activity pattern characteristics with cardiometabolic health markers.
• Collaborate with PIs and collaborators to translate scientific knowledge to education/practice. 
• Dissemination activities, like publications and conference presentations, and communication within collaborations.
• Educate in programmes of Human Movement Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and/or Health Sciences.

Requirements 
Our ideal candidate holds a PhD in Movement Sciences, Health Sciences, Health Promotion, Epidemiology, or related field. Additionally, we are looking for:

• Experience with physical activity measurement, interventions, processing and/or analyses.
• Experience with systematic reviewing, and preferably also experience with meta-analysis.
• Affinity with physical activity monitoring.
• Affinity with biomarker and physiological health data.
• Affinity with, or experience with, data sciences, machine learning, and data mining techniques.
• Willingness to play an active role in education, aligned with research topic.

What we offer
As a Postdoc 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 10 according to UFO profile Researcher, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €3378,00 and €5331,00 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 18 months with a scope of 0,7 FTE, starting June 1st 2025.
• 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  Brenda Berendsen at Brenda.berendsen@maastrichtuniversity.nl or 043-3881380 for more information.

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new Postdoc? Apply now, no later than 15th April 2025, for this position.
 

The first interviews preferably take place in the week of April 21st. The second interviews will preferably be held in the week of May 5th.

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.