PhD Position - Lipids and Cardiovascular Risk (LipidBRIGHT Doctoral Network)

PhD Position – Lipids and Cardiovascular Risk (LipidBRIGHT Doctoral Network)

• Our goal: To train the next generation of scientists who bridge basic, clinical, and translational lipid research to combat cardiovascular disease and related disorders.
• Your colleagues: You will join a multidisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, and PhD students within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) and across the LipidBRIGHT consortium, which includes leading European universities, research institutes, SMEs, and industry partners.

A PhD position is available at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, within the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network LipidBRIGHT. The 36-month project will commence in 2026, is hosted by Maastricht University and will be performed in collaboration with the 7 other European partners of the LipidBRIGHT consortium.

The LipidBRIGHT Consortium
Lipids are of vital importance through integration in cell membranes, as energy source and in cellular signaling and function. As such, they also play decisive roles in cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer and chronic inflammatory disease. These diseases affect 33%, 60%, 10% and 33% of Europeans, and are responsible for >60% of global deaths.
The European Doctoral Network LipidBRIGHT combines scientists, clinicians, companies and stakeholder organisations with expertise in these disease fields. By integrating expertise in lipids from the clinical, biomedical, technological and data science field across disease borders and by transferring complementary knowledge and technology, LipidBRIGHT aims to speed up innovations towards improved disease prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and therapy.

LipidBRIGHT will train scientists in a close cooperation between academia, SMEs and industry partners. Key objectives are to provide: 1) Excellent scientific training on interdisciplinary level, covering lipid biochemistry and pathophysiology as well as clinical application; 2) Excellent complementary skills in personal and career development as well as business training required to extend beyond scientific research; and 3) Exposure to both academic and non- academic environments, required to build bridges between researchers and entrepreneurs and support the future translation of research findings in innovative products and services.

LipidBRIGHT builds on available patient cohorts, advanced technologies and established cooperations and strives to synergistically improve structural training on European level. LipidBRIGHT will nurture the development of young, broadly-trained scientists able to successfully bridge clinical with basic research as well as academia and industry, which is a cornerstone in effectively combatting complex diseases as cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer and chronic inflammatory disease.

Contributing partners in LipidBRIGHT: Universiteit Maastricht (NL), Catholic University Leuven (BE), University Hasselt (BE), University Hospital Jena (DE), INSERM (FR), University Utrecht (NL), SciCross (SE), RD –Néphrologie SAS (FR), University of Bern (CH).

For more information: https://www.cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101225380

Doctoral project (Promotors: Prof. Dr. Joachim Jankowski, Dr. Heidi Noels, Prof. Dr. Leon Schurgers, CARIM)

Identification of novel regulators of pathological processes underlying cardiorenal disease and comorbidity crosstalk
This project focuses on pathological processes associated with cardiorenal disease and its common comorbidities, such as diabetes and periodontal inflammation. The work aims to study novel disease mechanisms and disease mediator candidates to improve the understanding of comorbidity development and crosstalk, and identify biomarkers that could improve diagnosis and risk prediction. Methods that will be used include a wide range of cellular and molecular methods, with a strong focus on the use of stem cells. We will also use mass spectrometry and MALDI imaging for the identification and characterization of disease mediators and biomarkers. The findings are expected to support patient stratification and therapy guidance. The project blends expertise in molecular and cellular analyses to advance cardiorenal health and reduce comorbidity burden.

Foreseen project start: 01.10.2026

What you bring
We are looking for ambitious, dedicated, and precise individuals who:

• Hold an MSc in Regenerative Medicine, Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biology, or related natural sciences (before 01-10-2026).
• Are highly motivated, independent, and collaborative.
• Have an interest in cardiovascular and cardiorenal research, inflammation and disease crosstalk.
• Have experience in cell culture (preferentially stem cells such as iPSCs), cellular and molecular biology, and interest to learn mass spectrometry.

Eligibility
Applicants must comply with EU Doctoral Network mobility rules: doctoral candidates may not have resided or carried out their main activity in the recruiting country for more than 12 months in the 3 years preceding recruitment. Candidates of any nationality are eligible.

Assistant Professors in Computer Science (5 positions)

What you do

• Teach and coordinate courses, skills training, tutorials, and project-centred learning activities in the Bachelor’s programme in Computer Science
• Help improve curriculum alignment, student guidance, and the overall quality of the programme
• Develop and maintain an active research line within your field of expertise
• Contribute to the research activities, collaborations, and scholarly profile of DACS

What you bring
Do you recognise yourself in the following?

• You have a PhD in Computer Science or a closely related field
• You have clear expertise and a strong track record in at least one of the following areas: computer systems, high-performance computing, programming languages, AI for programming and software engineering, post-quantum security, or embedded systems
• You have a genuine passion for education and a proven track record in teaching in higher education
• You have an active research profile, or clear potential to develop one further, in a field relevant to one of the vacancy profiles
• You are motivated to connect your research to education
• You have an excellent command of English and thrive in an international academic setting
• You have interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and in acquiring competitive research funding

Junioronderzoeker Gezond Werkgeverschap

Junioronderzoeker Gezond Werkgeverschap

Ons doel: Binnen het team Arbeid en Gezondheid onderzoeken we hoe werk gezonder, veiliger en duurzamer kan worden ingericht. Met deze onderzoeksfunctie willen we samen met het VieCuri Medisch Centrum en partners zoals de Gezondste regio, LEV!, Fontys Hogeschool en werkgevers in de regio Limburg, helpen bij het creëren van een gezonde werkomgeving waarin werknemers met plezier en productief werken.

Jouw collega’s: Je komt terecht in een multidisciplinair, betrokken en open team binnen de vakgroep Sociale Geneeskunde van de Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences. Je gaat onderdeel uitmaken van de Academische Werkplaats Gezondheid en Vitaliteit van VieCuri en de Academische Werkplaats Health & Labour van de vakgroep Sociale Geneeskunde en onderzoeksinstituut CAPHRI. We werken intensief samen met partners in de regio, andere vakgroepen binnen FHML. Samen combineren we wetenschap, praktijk en beleid.

Wat jij doet
Jij gaat onderzoek doen naar gezond werkgeverschap. Dit onderzoek wordt gefinancierd vanuit de Regiodeal. Noord-Limburg is een ongezonde regio en er is sprake van veel sociaaleconomische gezondheidsverschillen. Veel werknemers zijn ongezond, en er is sprake van een hoog ziekteverzuim en veel verloop. Werkgevers willen de vitaliteit, duurzame inzetbaarheid, mentale gezondheid, weerbaarheid, en gezonde leefstijl van werkenden vergroten. Dit is onder meer vastgelegd in het LEV! (Levenskracht, Energie & Vitaliteit) manifest dat door veel partners in de regio is ondertekend.
In het kader van dit project ga jij de in een eerder onderzoek ontwikkelde benadering ‘Gezond HR’ doorontwikkelen, implementeren in arbeidsorganisaties en evalueren. Gezond HR is een dialooggestuurde benadering aan de hand waarvan werkgevers in dialoog met werknemers interventies voor het verbeteren van gezondheid en duurzame inzetbaarheid kunnen ontwikkelen en implementeren. Dit project bestaat uit een aantal fasen: (1) het in kaart brengen van de ‘readiness’ van organisaties voor Gezond HR aan de hand van een screeningsinstrument (PreSEed) en het verbeteren van een meetinstrument door duurzame inzetbaarheid (de MAISE), (2) het uitvoeren van een needs assessment (0-meting) in organisaties, (3) het ontwikkelen van nieuwe tools voor Gezond HR, en (4) het samen met organisaties implementeren en evalueren van de Gezond HR 2.0. In het eerste jaar van dit project zul je vooral met fase 1 en 2 bezig zijn.

Je wordt begeleid door een team van ervaren onderzoekers en professionals uit de Academische Werkplaatsen ‘Health & Labour’ en ‘Gezondheid en Vitaliteit’ en andere partners uit de regio.

Ben jij klaar om koers te zetten voor de komende jaren? Dan ontmoeten we je graag.

Wat jij meebrengt
Het gaat ons niet om vinkjes, maar om wie jij bent en wat jij meebrengt. Herken jij jezelf hierin?

Voor deze functie zoeken wij iemand met een achtergrond in de gezondheidswetenschappen, personeelswetenschappen, (arbeids- en organisatie)psychologie, sociologie, economie of een aanverwante discipline. Kennis van theorieën over arbeid en gezondheid, duurzame inzetbaarheid, vitaiteit, leefstijl, mentale gezondheid en kwalitatieve en kwantitatieve onderzoeksmethoden op het terrein van arbeid en gezondheid zijn een voorwaarde. Ook kandidaten die bezig zijn met de afronding van hun masterthesis worden uitgenodigd te solliciteren. Daarnaast hebben we de volgende verwachtingen. Onze nieuwe collega:

• Heeft een uitstekende beheersing van de Nederlandse taal in woord en geschrift (CFER-niveau C2 of Nederlands als moedertaal).
• Beschikt over goede communicatieve en schriftelijke vaardigheden in het Engels.
• Heeft enige ervaring met projectmanagement (bijvoorbeeld tijdens de studie).
• Heeft bij voorkeur ervaring met onderzoek doen in of in samenwerking met een arbeidsorganisatie (bijvoorbeeld een ziekenhuis).
• Is proactief, creatief en niet bang om initiatief te nemen en op organisaties af te stappen.
• Werkt gemakkelijk samen met verschillende soorten collega’s en partners en houdt daarbij rekening met de werkbelasting en het werkplezier van collega’s en van zichzelf.

PhD Candidate in Rheology of Diluted Polymer Melts

PhD Candidate in Rheology of Diluted Polymer Melts

• Our goal: you will investigate how dilution affects polymer melt viscosity and develop physically grounded models that connect thermodynamics, rheology, and processing. Your work will generate fundamental insights that improve the predictability and efficiency of extrusion and recycling technologies.
• Your colleagues: you will work in the Circular Plastics team in the Faculty of Science and Engineering located at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen. You will become part of a young international research group, specialized in the mechanical recycling of plastics with a strong polymer science background. You will be guided by assistant professor Dr. Ali Gooneie and supported by other experts in the Circular Plastics group on this exciting topic. This project will be done in collaboration with Prof. Steven De Meester (Ghent University, Belgium) and Prof. Nino Grizzuti (University of Naples, Italy). You will have the opportunity to embed your work in an international collaboration.

We are seeking a motivated PhD candidate to advance the fundamental understanding of viscosity reduction in polymer–diluent systems. While the addition of low-molecular-weight diluents is widely used to improve processability in extrusion and recycling, current modeling approaches remain inadequate for complex, real-world materials. In particular, classical thermodynamic and free-volume-based models fail to quantitatively predict viscosity reduction, especially under processing conditions far above the glass transition temperature. At the same time, their application to thermoplastics is limited by unknown material characteristics such as molecular weight distribution, branching, and compositional heterogeneity. This project aims to develop a physically grounded framework that links thermodynamics, rheology, and polymer processing, with a focus on understanding and modeling viscosity reduction in polyolefin-based systems with conventional liquid diluents. You will work in close collaboration with partners to generate fundamental insights with direct relevance for extrusion and recycling technologies.

What you will do
In this project, your responsibilities will entail:

• Design and perform experiments using extrusion equipment, as well as off-line and in-line rheometry to characterize viscosity reduction in polymer–diluent systems.
• Investigate the physical mechanisms governing viscosity reduction, with particular emphasis on the limitations of classical free-volume theory.
• Develop and refine physically based rheological models (e.g., time–concentration superposition, thermodynamic approaches) for polymer–diluent mixtures.
• Study the influence of molecular architecture (e.g., molecular weight distribution, branching) on rheological behavior.
• Develop strategies to approximate or infer relevant material parameters of recycled polymers from experimental data.
• Extend modeling approaches to complex and multicomponent recycling streams.
• Present your work at international conferences and project meetings, and publish results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Contribute to teaching activities and supervise MSc/BSc students.

Are you ready to set the course for the years 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?

You are a self-motivated, open-minded and hands-on individual with strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of working both independently and within an interdisciplinary team, and interested in an international research environment.

Furthermore, the requisites for this position are:

• MSc degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Strong background in polymer rheology and physics, demonstrated for example through relevant university coursework, publications, conference presentations, and/or a thesis conducted within a recognized research group.
• Experience with experimental techniques (e.g., rheometry, extrusion) is highly desirable.
• Solid understanding of transport phenomena or continuum mechanics is an advantage, demonstrated for example through relevant university coursework, publications, conference presentations, and/or a thesis conducted within a recognized research group.
• Excellent communication skills in English.

PhD Candidate: Immunostart-kids: protecting vulnerable children through vaccination

PhD Candidate Immunostart-kids: protecting vulnerable children through vaccination

• Our goal: to optimise the protection of vulnerable children, e.g. those who are immunocompromised, against infectious diseases through vaccination.
• Your colleagues: You will be part of the department of Paediatrics at Maastricht University Medical Centre. The department is responsible for clinical care, research and teaching related to paediatrics. The project will involve collaboration in the nationwide Immunostart-kids network and is embedded within the Maastricht-Nijmegen Translational Research Alliance for Innovative Vaccine Research, ensuring valuable interdisciplinary expertise and collaboration.

Children with immune disorders, whether due to congenital conditions or the use of immunosuppressive medications, are at increased risk of infections. With declining vaccination rates and the ongoing development and use of new immunomodulating therapies, it is more important than ever to provide optimal protection for this vulnerable population. The aim of this PhD research project is to generate knowledge in immunocompromised children regarding: (1) the epidemiology of infectious diseases, (2) the safety and effectiveness of new vaccines, and (3) the optimal implementation of vaccination care.

The project consists of three interconnected subprojects that will investigate: (1) the incidence and dynamics of invasive pneumococcal diseases, (2) the immunogenicity of new pneumococcal vaccines, and (3) how vaccination care can be implemented effectively. To achieve this, a nationwide cohort will be established, immunogenicity of novel pneumococcal vaccines will be investigated, and implementation research will be carried out, including the potential development of a clinical decision support tool.

With this project, we aim to contribute to better protection, personalized care, and sustainable health benefits for vulnerable children.

What you do
You will co-design and lead the Immunostart-kids research project. This will entail a variety of scientific methodologies, including clinical immunogenicity studies, qualitative work and implementation studies. You will be leading, coordinating and executing the studies, data collection, analysis and manuscript writing.

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

What you bring
This role requires strong communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex topics and write scientific content to a high standard. You should be able to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, while managing different tasks and meeting deadlines. Given the variety of methods involved a willingness and ability to learn quickly is also essential.

Furthermore, you bring:

• Master’s degree in Medicine, or expected to be obtained in the near future.
• A strong research interest, as evidenced by a master’s thesis topic or work experience.
• Experience or demonstrated affinity with immunology, infectious diseases, vaccine research, and/or public health.
• Excellent proficiency in English.