PhD student Cardiology – Selenium and Iron project

As a researcher you want to matter. Our Cardiology department translate problems that we experience in clinical practice into scientific research. Your role is essential and therefore this positions suits you!

Research line: Experimental Cardiology, Heart Failure
Project: Selenium and Heart Failure
Apply until: 30 January 2024

Department description

  • You are a member of an exceptional team with strong interaction between experimental, genetic, epidemiological and clinical research groups, all situated on the same floor. The Principal – Investigator (PI) is actively engaged, fostering interactions with team members and conducting weekly meetings.
  • Our well-funded environment ensures that you will have unrestricted access to all resources necessary for the successful execution of your project.
  • You will collaborate with various PhD students and postdocs dedicated to the same research topic, fostering a collaborative team dynamic.
    Our team maintains strong connections with the translational cardiology community in both Europe and the USA.
  • Upon the successful completion of your PhD, candidates holding a Dutch MD license are eligible to participate in the selection process for the Cardiology Residency program at the UMCG.

Function description

As a researcher you want to matter. You really want to make a difference in the lives of people with a cardiovascular condition. Now and in the future. That is why you consciously choose to work at the Department of Cardiology of the UMCG, a dynamic department where research and clinical practice are intertwined. We translate problems that we experience in clinical practice into scientific research. We improve patient care with the results of our scientific research. We believe that providing talent room to develop, a solution can ultimately be found for every cardiovascular condition. As a PhD student, UMCG Cardiology therefore offers you plenty of opportunities to follow your interests and give your talent space.

Job description

  • Heart failure is a major health problem, causing severe symptoms and increased mortality. Essential micronutrient deficiencies are common in patients with heart failure, adding to the burden of disease. The most important of these are deficiencies in selenium (prevalence 25%) and iron (50-60%).
  • Our team’s recent research has resulted in optimized methods to detect patients with these deficiencies (Grote Beverborg et al. JAMA Cardiology 2019 and Bomer et al. EJHF 2020) and to identify how these deficiencies affect the human cardiomyocyte. Although multiple treatment strategies are now available, further research is required to determine their effectiveness.
  • For this project, the doctoral student will create three-dimensional human heart tissues and subject them to micronutrient deficiencies to identify innovative targets and mechanisms. Subsequently, the different treatment strategies will be tested. In collaboration with a medical PhD student, stable isotope targeting studies will be conducted in patients with severe heart failure. A keen interest in cardiology and translational science is required. The PhD candidate will employ an array of methods including cell culture, tissue engineering, histology, and proteomic and metabolomic assays. The findings from these studies will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will lead to an academic dissertation (PhD).

Job requirements

  • A master’s degree in (bio-medical) sciences.
  • Interest in translational cardiology.
  • Previous experience with cell or animal models of heart disease is a pro.
  • Able to express oneself in English in word and writing.
  • 2 references from PIs of Bachelor and/or Master projects.

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. The UMCG can provide you with the vaccination, should it be required for your position.
In case of specific professions a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ is required.

Employment conditions

A full-time appointment for one year (36 hours a week), with the possibility of extension for a maximum of four years. Your salary will be a minimum of € 2.901,- gross per month in the first year and a maximum of € 3.677,- gross per month (scale PhD) in the final (4th) year, based on a full-time appointment. In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

Please state in your CV the names and contact information of at least two references and add a short biosketch.

For questions about the position

Any questions? Do contact us.

Dr. N. Grote Beverborg, n.grote.beverborg@umcg.nl
Dr. N. Bömer, n.bomer@umcg.nl
Prof. dr. P. van der Meer, p.van.der.meer@umcg.nl

How to apply
Please use the digital application form here – only these will be processed.

You can apply until 30 January 2024.
Within half an hour after sending the digital application form you will receive an email- confirmation with further information.