PhD position: Investigating the Function of CLIP in Myocardial Structural Remodelling.

3 Apr 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Maastricht University (UM)

Research Field

Medical sciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

1 May 2024 - 21:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

38.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Cartilage intermediate layer protein (CILP) is an extracellular matrix protein strongly upregulated in the heart during cardiac disease. CILP is predominantly expressed in cardiac fibroblasts and has recently gained interest as a marker and pathogenic factor in cardiac fibrosis. Although the association of CILP with cardiac fibrosis is strong and undisputed, the biological role and regulatory factors are uncertain and there is controversy whether CILP has beneficial or detrimental effects on myocardial remodelling. The PhD student will study CILP regulation, interaction, function and mode of action using an innovative 3D cell culture model containing human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts (engineered heart tissue, EHT). By using our novel EHT culture model combined with Novo Nordisk protein-protein interaction expertise we will further our understanding of the function and mode of action of CILP in cardiac remodelling. We envision that the present proposal will clarify whether CILP is a valid target for designing treatment of adverse myocardial remodelling in human cardiac disease.

Responsibilities/tasks of the PhD student:

• Human stem cell culture
• Differentiation of stem cells to cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts
• Preparing 3D engineered heart tissues
• Analysing mechanical behaviour (stiffness, contractile function)
• Analysing CILP gene regulation (RNA isolation, qPCR)
• Analysing CILP function (cell signalling, differentiation, extracellular matrix production, tissue and cell structure, by histology and immunohistochemistry, …)
• Analysing CILP mode of action (identifying binding partners, signalling pathways, by Western blotting, Immunoasays, …)

Requirements
Specific Requirements

A prospective candidate for a PhD position should possess a strong academic background, typically holding a master's degree in biomedical sciences, medical biology, biochemistry or a comparable relevant field. Strong communication skills in English, both written and verbal, are crucial for presenting research findings and collaborating with peers. Additionally, the candidate should demonstrate a high level of self-motivation, critical thinking, and the capacity to work independently, as well as within a collaborative research environment.

Additional Information
Benefits

As PhD-candidateat 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 P according to UFO profile PhD-candidate, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2770,00 and €3539,00 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 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow.
• 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.

Additional comments

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Dr. Frans A. van Nieuwenhoven at [email protected] for more information.

Applying?
Are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD student working on the “Deciphering CILP” project of Maastricht University/Novo Nordisk? Apply now, no later than May 1st 2024 for this position. The first interviews will take place by mutual agreement. The second interviews will take place if applicable.

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.

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/339745/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Maastricht University

Country

Netherlands

City

Maastricht

Postal Code

6229HX

Street

P. Debyelaan 25

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/339745/phd-position-investigating-the-funct…

Contact

City

Maastricht

Website

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

Street

Minderbroedersberg 4

Postal Code

6211 LK

STATUS: EXPIRED