PhD position in vestibular implant research | School of Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs) | 1.0 FTE

About the department and the project:

The School of MHeNS (https://mhens.mumc.maastrichtuniversity.nl/) investigates the causes, mechanisms and treatments of mental disorders and disease of the nervous and sensory systems. The vestibular department of Maastricht University Medical Center+, is performing pioneering research to develop a vestibular implant to restore loss of vestibular function (www.vestibularimplant.com). Together with the university of Geneva (the Geneva-Maastricht team) the first vestibular implant was surgically implanted in humans. Several funds were awarded to start new prospective clinical trials with the vestibular implant (extending patients, measurement techniques and test conditions). Currently a translational trial with newly implanted patients is running and results are being processed. Future trial protocols are being developed.

The vestibular implant team of Maastricht UMC+ is led by Prof. Dr. Dr. Raymond van de Berg and comprises several PhD-candidates and a Post Doctoral researcher. The team is part of the Vestibular Laboratory and the Cochlear Implant team Zuid-Oost Nederland (CIZON). It is embedded within the clinical Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery. It closely collaborates with other departments within the hospital (e.g. Physiotherapy) as well as the university (e.g. Movement Sciences, Advanced Computing Sciences,…), providing a stimulating and vibrant clinical research environment.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Participate in setting up and executing a clinical trial protocol

• Collect data and engage in patient contacts

• Critically analyze and report results

• Write quality papers and assist in submitting research proposals

• Collaborate with other researchers within and across teams in an international setting

• Act in accordance with regulatory requirements of medical-scientific research with human subjects

Requirements:

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a finished Master’s degree in medicine, neuroscience, biomedical sciences or another related discipline. They should present an intrinsic interest in medical scientific research, and an sparked interest into the field of balance and medical devices. Willingness to collaborate in a team, an efficient working style, strong communication skills and enthusiasm for interaction with our patient user group are further prerequisites. Appropriate training and mentorship by post-doctoral researchers will be provided.

Salary Benefits:

As a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, you will be employed by the most international university of the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is in grated in scale P with corresponding salary ranging from € 2.770 to € 3.539 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 are applicable.
• 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.
• As Family-friendly University, 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 Bargaining Agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, Click here

   

38 hours per week

Universiteitssingel 40