Tenure Track Position in Neuroregeneration

Tenure Track Position in Neuroregeneration

JOB DESCRIPTION

Introduction

We seek a tenure track candidate to join the MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine. MERLN was founded at Maastricht University in 2014 and has quickly become a leading institute in Europe. We are a team of 14 faculty members (principal investigators from Assistant to Full Professor level) and >100 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers with diverse expertise and research interests, including biomaterials, cell biology, tissue engineering, biofabrication, microfabrication and -fluidics, nanotechnology, computational modeling, and bioinformatics. We share newly renovated laboratory facilities with state-of-the-art equipment. Our staff members are leaders in the field of biomaterials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, for which we have a focus on engineering approaches, and we are particularly well-known for our orientation towards translational research.

Desired research profile

We are seeking a talented researcher who can add knowledge on Neuroregeneration.

The candidate has ample experience in regeneration of the central nervous system (brain and/or spine) after trauma (e.g. spinal cord injury, cerebral hemorrhage etc.) or due to degenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson, ALS, etc.) using stem or progenitor cells and/or morphogenic cues and/or biomaterials. Determining cell faith and function is important. Morphogenic cues can be implemented as protein, gene therapy, small molecule therapy etc. The candidate has profound knowledge in in vitro (2D and 3D) and in vivo models including functional, molecular and cell biological assays. The candidate is expected to work closely with the Maastricht University’s School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs) and Maastricht University Medical Center’s Department of Neurosurgery. Importantly, the candidate should complement our current knowledge and research activities in order to benefit our aims. Thereby tissue-nervous system interactions could be in the center, whereby the “tissue” is the expertise of another PI within MERLN (e.g. the PNS, endocrine systems, inflammation, vascularization). Research with a clinical orientation is considered a plus.

REQUIREMENTS

Description of the candidate

The successful candidate will be embedded within one of the three departments of the MERLN Institute. For those unfamiliar with Dutch academic norms, departments are led by a chair who supervises an independent research group of their own (comprising PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers) and is also responsible for the activities of a small number of junior academics (typically at the Assistant and Associate Professor level) who are responsible for their own research groups within the same department. In each of the MERLN departments there are currently 3 to 4 junior academics in a tenure track trajectory. The position is an independent one suited for someone with at least 4 years of experience post-PhD. Excellent knowledge of scientific English is required as it is our working language. Knowledge of Dutch is not required at this stage, but candidates should be willing to learn for their administrative tasks. We encourage candidates who reflect diversity in the broadest sense.

Candidates must:

• Have a track record of high-quality publications


• Have supervision experience


• Possess an international network


• Be recognized as emergent scientific leaders in their field


• Have a talent for leadership and management


• Be passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration


• Have experience in education, willing to teach Bachelor and Master students


• Have demonstrated an ability to fund their research.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

The contract terms will be finalized upon selecting a candidate, but the expectation is for an initially temporary position (max 4 years) in a tenure track system, which may be turned into a permanent contract following a probationary period, acquisition of any necessary certificates/qualifications, and positive evaluation from a tenure track committee to be installed for candidate as part of her/his growth mentorship programme at MERLN. Tenure track candidates will be appointed first as researchers, but once tenured will be appointed on a permanent basis as assistant or associate professor depending on their level of experience. Salaries in the Netherlands are set by the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO-NU), in which candidates who qualify as future assistant professors can earn approximately €3.821–€5.943 gross (before tax) per month, and candidates who qualify as associate professors earn approximately €5.294-€6.444 gross (before tax) per month. Employees also receive an 8% holiday and 8.3% year-end bonus given annually and those who need to relocate may be eligible for compensation. Employees relocating from abroad may be eligible for the Dutch ‘30% ruling’, which can result in a significantly higher net salary. The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) and local UM provisions also apply.

We offer a competitive start-up package. We expect 1–2 vacancies for additional junior researchers (i.e., Ph.D. student or post-doc) can be filled in the coming years. Laboratory and office facilities (with support staff) are shared by the entire institute. In addition to research activities, the candidate is expected to perform education duties using the Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach that is synonymous with UM education. The contract starts with a low level of teaching, eventually increasing to 50% after 4 year period; however, this effort/time can distributed between the candidate and their junior researchers.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl ">http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl">www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

EMPLOYER

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 22,000 students and 5,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl .

">http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl">www.maastrichtuniversity.nl.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Application timeline

Candidates can expect to hear from us within two weeks after the deadline for applications. Video interviews will be scheduled for short-listed candidates. Those proceeding to the second interview round will be invited to attend a two-day in-person interview (if the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic restrict travel, we will set up an alternative online platform for the interview). Your travel costs will be compensated.

To apply

To apply, please submit the following via this website:

• A cover letter (max. 2 pages) highlighting your accomplishments as related to the aforementioned description of the candidate


• A CV (including a complete list of publications)


• A statement of research interests (current and future plans and potential integration with current research at MERLN) (max. 5 pages)


• A statement of education interests (current and future plans and potential integration with current educational activities at MERLN) (max. 1 page)


• The names of 3–4 people who could be contacted (only upon your explicit approval) for a reference

For more information, you may contact Paul Wieringa (member search committee; p.wieringa">mailto:[email protected]">p.wieringa @maastrichtuniversity.nl) or Lorenzo Moroni (institute director; l.moroni">mailto:[email protected]">l.moroni @maastrichtuniversity.nl). For more information about MERLN, please visit https://merlninstitute.com .

">https://merlninstitute.com">https://merlninstitute.com.