Postdoc - mass spectrometry imaging of lung cancer for a digital pathology platform

Join an interdisciplinary, international project with the aim of integrating spatial metabolomics in form of mass spectrometry imaging into a new digital pathology platform!

Job Description

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging institute, Europe’s leading mass spectrometry imaging center, to investigate lung cancer patients with the aim to build predictive models of their clinical outcome. This will be in the context of the Interreg project DigiPathConnect. Click here for more information on the project.

Your responsibilities will include conducting the mass spectrometry imaging experiments using state-of-the-art instrumentation on a selected lung cancer sample cohort, performing data analysis, and collaborating with the project partners to integrate the data and models into a new digital pathology platform. This aims at helping pathologists to increase diagnostic accuracy and stratify patients for their individual therapies.

To achieve this, you will closely collaborate with clinicians, data analysts, analytical scientists, and the platform developers in an interdisciplinary and international team located at several universities, companies, and medical centers in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (Germany – NRW, Belgium – East, Netherlands – Limburg).

Besides the experimental and collaborative aspects of the project, your work will include presenting and publishing your research findings and participating in educational activities of the institute.

Responsibilities and tasks:

• Perform mass spectrometry imaging experiments on lung cancer cohort.
• Perform data analysis to build predictive models.
• Develop framework with clinicians, data analysts, analytical scientists, and software developers for integrating the data and models in an optimal way into a digital pathology platform
• Present findings at (inter)national conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
• Taking on educational roles at Maastricht University.

Expected incorporation:

• Ideally July – September 2025.

Requirements

We are looking for a candidate with strong analytical abilities, problem-solving skills, and a collaborative mindset. The ideal candidate should be able to work independently, manage complex data, and communicate effectively within an interdisciplinary team. Candidates should be committed to scientific integrity and open, transparent research practices.

Our ideal candidate has:

• PhD in molecular biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry or similar.
• Experience with mass spectrometry.
• Experience in dealing with multidimensional datasets (such as omics data) and interpretation of microscopic images of biological tissues (histology).
• Proficiency in English language.
• Publication record demonstrating publishing expertise.

What we offer
As 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 – 22 months (depending on your experience) with a scope of 1.0 FTE (38 hours), but we also offer flexible working hour contracts.
• 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.

Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging institute (M4i)

Launched in 2015, the Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging institute (M4i) is Europe’s leading and most modern mass spectrometry imaging laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art imaging instrumentation ranging from brightfield, over molecular imaging to electron microscopy. The institute harbors four synergistic research lines (instrumentation development, clinical application, imaging bioinformatics, and analytics) that will guarantee best practice in all aspects of the project. The institute is an inter-faculty institute located between the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences. The latter provides closeness to clinical collaborators from the Departments of Pathology and Surgery from the Maastricht University Medical Center which allows direct translation to a clinical context and the input of relevant knowledge to clinically oriented projects.

 
Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Benjamin Balluff at b.balluff@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new Postdoc? Apply now, no later than 16 February 2025, for this position.
 

Please upload your CV, motivation letter and contact information of 2 referees.

The interviews will take place in the first trimester of 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.