Stephane Heymans
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PhD Candidate: Psychosocial, Environmental and Economical Impact in Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathies Maastricht University in Netherlands
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Environmental Science
Funding
Gross monthly salary of €3,204 to €4,051 for full-time employment (38 hours per week), plus 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus; 12-month contract with prospect of a 3-year extension.
Deadline
Nov 22, 2026
Country
Netherlands
University
Maastricht University
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About this position
This PhD project explores how non-ischemic cardiomyopathy affects young adults beyond physical symptoms, with a particular focus on psychosocial burden, environmental influences, and the economic consequences of the disease. The candidate will investigate how factors such as stress, obesity, and physical activity relate to disease progression, quality of life, mental well-being, and broader societal impact.
The research uses Health Technology Assessment approaches and combines clinical phenotyping with questionnaires, patient-reported outcomes, healthcare use, employment data, and cost information. These data will be integrated with biosamples and multi-omics from a prospective cohort and biobank of more than 1,300 cardiomyopathy patients to better understand disease mechanisms and complications.
The position is embedded in the Heart Failure Research team of Prof. dr. Stephane Heymans at CARIM and Maastricht UMC+, within a large Dutch research consortium. The project is also closely connected to the HTA and health economics group at KU Leuven, where the candidate will collaborate with Prof. dr. Jan Y. Verbakel and make regular working visits to Leuven.
The student will have room to develop original research ideas, including studies that connect biological findings in the heart, such as RNA or protein data, to psychosocial and environmental factors within a gene-environment interaction framework. Where relevant and feasible, selected findings may also be translated into patient-derived iPSC or experimental animal models in collaboration with molecular researchers.
This is a multidisciplinary PhD within an international research environment spanning Maastricht and Leuven, focused on cardiomyopathy, patient-centered outcomes, and health-economic evidence generation.
Funding details
Gross monthly salary of €3,204 to €4,051 for full-time employment (38 hours per week), plus 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus; 12-month contract with prospect of a 3-year extension.
What's required
Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Medicine or AKO arts klinisch onderzoeker, with interest or experience in health sciences or related fields. Experience with, or willingness to learn, statistical software such as R or Stata is expected. Candidates should have strong analytical and communication skills, enjoy multidisciplinary teamwork, be familiar with the Northern European and/or Dutch healthcare system, and have an excellent command of both English and Dutch at minimum C1 level (CEFR). Interest in Health Technology Assessment (HTA), psychosocial and economic impact research, quality of life, and patient-reported outcomes is required.
How to apply
Apply via the AcademicTransfer application link. Upload your CV, motivation letter, transcript, a writing example such as a thesis chapter, and contact details for two referees. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
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Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Professors
Prof. dr. at Maastricht University
Netherlands
Research Interests
Health Economics
Patient-reported Outcome
Environmental Science
Economics
Quality Of Life
Prof. dr. at Maastricht University
Netherlands
Research Interests
Health Economics
Cardiomyopathy
Biology
Quality Of Life
Patient-reported Outcome
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.