PhD Candidate at the department of Clinical Neurophysiology

Background
For patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy (about 25 million people worldwide) who are not eligible for (re)operation, there is a pressing need to improve the accuracy to target epileptogenic foci for minimally invasive curative treatment. This comes with the benefit of improved clinical (seizure) outcome for this under-served population (currently dependent on palliative therapies), reduced treatment risk, improved quality of life and lower societal costs. To achieve this goal, we will develop an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted clinical intervention planning suite by seamlessly integrating available technologies based on multimodal brain imaging and invasive electrophysiological recordings of different brain regions.
In this project, the successful candidate will investigate aberrant electrophysiological brain signals which are characteristic for epilepsy as a network disease. The selected data will be analysed to investigate the epileptogenicity index. Furthermore, network analysis will be performed to reconstruct pathologic brain activity interactions in relation to an epileptogenic region.

Setting
This 4-year project is part of a bigger project and is a collaboration between the School for Mental Health and Neuroscience at Maastricht University, the Academic Center for Epileptology Kempenhaeghe and MUMC+ and CNSprojects. Data collection and work will take place both in Maastricht and at Kempenhaeghe in patients undergoing pre-surgical evaluation of their epilepsy using intracranial recordings.

Tasks

• Literature study on determinants of epileptogenicity.
• Signal processing and analysis intracranial recordings to determine epileptogenicity and brain connectivity measures.
• Develop software that integrates with the clinical EEG acquisition systems (input) and the 4Dimaging platform (output).
• Presentation of findings in a thesis, scientific publications and at (inter)national conferences.
• Contribute to data collection within AIM@EPILEPSY project.
• Teaching and supervision of Master students.

For this project, programming and signal processing skills will be used. Therefore, we are looking for a candidate with a MSc with an affinity with signal processing and brain imaging and a background in electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, physics, data science, computational neuroscience, or related fields. Excellent statistical and programming skills (MATLAB and C++) are important for successful completion of this project. In addition, the candidate should have a keen interest in (learning) neurophysiological and signal processing methods, be flexible, open-minded and curious with strong analytical and conceptual skills.

Why work at Maastricht University?
At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

What we offer

As PhD Candidate at 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 Promovendus, 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. For more information, click here.

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact
Dr.ir. Erik Gommer (P: 043-3877270; E: e.gommer@mumc.nl) for more information.

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD Candidate? Apply now, no later than 10 December, for this position.

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.