Research Assistant: Improving Social Safety of PhD candidates

Welcome to Maastricht University! 
Do you want to contribute to a socially secure environment for PhD candidates at Maastricht University? Help us investigate which topics are important for our candidates to work on and improve social safety at the workplace. 

Research Assistant: Improving Social Safety of PhD candidates

Our goal: As junior researcher you will be part of a research project investigating the experiences of PhD candidates at Maastricht University in order to improve their social safety at the workplace. You will be trained in a mixed-method approach (Group Concept Mapping) that you will use to examine PhD candidates in a systematic way how they best see their social safety improved. The results of the research project will be used to inform future policies on social safety at Maastricht University and to foster a more pleasant working environment. 

Your colleagues: You will work closely with a small team of researchers who are experienced in using the methodology and who are familiar with the target group. You will also work independently by recruiting participants, gathering data, communicating with other stakeholders, and preparing documents for publication. 

What you do

• Recruit and communicate with participants.
• Organizing and chairing brainstorming session under supervision.
• Gathering qualitative and quantitative data.
• Supporting data analysis.
• Communicating with stakeholders such as PhD candidates and supervisors.
• Supporting communication with the broader community

Are you ready to set the course for the work ahead? Then we’d love to meet you. 

What you bring 

We’re not looking for checkboxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this? 

• Academically grounded: You hold a Bachelor in a related field, such as psychology, health sciences, business administration etc. and have experience conducting research and gathering data yourself.
• Independent researcher: You are interested in mixed-methods research and are willing to learn a new research methods and take responsibility in its execution.
• Curious and open-minded: You have curiosity for and have an open mind about the experiences of others.
• Strong communicator: You are able to enthusiastically communicate about the project and its goals, and possess good communicative skills.

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

• A 12-month contract (0,3 – 0,5 FTE) with the prospect of a 7-month extension (until January 2028).
• A gross monthly salary between €3.057 and €3.985 (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? Reach out to Reine Ramaekers at reine.ramaekers@maastrichtuniversity.nl. 

We are looking to start the position from 01-05-2026. Qualified candidates will be invited for an interview right away, so we encourage you not to wait until the application deadline (April 14, 2026) to apply.

To apply, please upload a curriculum vitae (CV) and motivation letter describing your interest in the project and your relevant experiences.

 
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.