Casper Schalkwijk
12 months ago
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PhD Candidate in Cardiovascular Aging: The Methylglyoxal Pathway in Cardiac Function and Metabolism Maastricht University in Netherlands
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Metabolism
Funding
Available
Deadline
Expired
Country
Netherlands
University
University of Maastricht
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Keywords
About this position
This PhD position at Maastricht University focuses on understanding how the reactive metabolite methylglyoxal (MGO) influences cardiovascular aging and cardiac metabolism. Hosted at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), one of Europe’s leading cardiovascular research centers, the project bridges metabolism, aging biology, and cardiovascular medicine in a collaborative, translational research environment. The successful candidate will work with an interdisciplinary team from the Departments of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, supervised by Prof.
Casper Schalkwijk, Dr. Philippe Vangrieken, and Dr. Miranda Nabben.
Research activities include designing and performing in vivo cardiac imaging and metabolic assessments, conducting ex vivo analyses of myocardial metabolism, executing in vitro studies in cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells, profiling dicarbonyls and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in biological samples using UPLC–MS/MS, and managing mouse models of obesity, diabetes, and aging. The project aims to clarify how dicarbonyl and AGE stress contribute to age-related changes in cardiac structure and metabolism, and to identify nutritional or pharmacological strategies to protect cardiac function. The position offers opportunities to publish results, present at international conferences, and contribute to teaching.
Applicants should have a Master’s degree in a relevant field, hands-on experience in biomedical or cardiovascular research, technical skills in metabolic assays and imaging, and proficiency with quantitative data analysis and statistical tools. The university provides a supportive, international environment with a competitive salary, benefits, and professional development opportunities. The application deadline is 17 November 2025, and candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of background, as Maastricht University values diversity and inclusion.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, Physiology, Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field. Experience with experimental work in biomedical or cardiovascular research is required. Familiarity with metabolic assays and imaging techniques such as echocardiography or tracer-based studies is expected. Candidates should be able to work with quantitative data and statistical tools (e.g. R, Python, GraphPad), and be motivated to learn mass spectrometry-based metabolomics (UPLC–MS/MS). Strong communication skills in English, both oral and written, are necessary. Applicants must be able to work safely in the lab and comply with institutional and Dutch research regulations. Collaborative and ethical working style is essential.
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Professors
Professor at Maastricht University
Netherlands
Research Interests
Pharmacology
Hospital Pharmacy
Glucose Metabolism
Health Science
Aging
Dr. at Maastricht University
Netherlands
Research Interests
Hospital Pharmacy
Pharmacology
Metabolism
Biology
Obesity
Assistant Professor
Netherlands
Research Interests
Pharmacology
Hospital Pharmacy
Biology
Type 2 Diabetes
Glucose Metabolism
Make your next move.
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Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.