Recruitment - Doctoral Candidate 2
Background and Working Environment
Gait and balance deficits caused by vestibular disorders reduce the quality of life of millions of individuals. These disorders are poorly understood, difficult to diagnose and manage, and receive little attention despite their enormous personal and economic costs. To address the global burden imposed by vestibular disorders, the PROVIDE doctoral network will train 10 PhD students (doctoral candidates). These PhD students will conduct individual research projects to address key research challenges and develop new knowledge, tools, and approaches to advance care for individuals with vestibular disorders. PhD students will work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary and international consortium of experts in vestibular research, patient care, and medical device development. PhD students will gain diverse specialist, cross-sectoral, and transferable skills, empowering them to innovate solutions for these and other healthcare challenges.
Are you interested?
Recruitment for doctoral candidate 2 reopened! The application deadline is 25 August 2024. The position may begin as early as October 2024. The PhD student will be appointed in accordance with the conditions specified by the respective host organisation.
PhD (Doctoral Candidate) Qualifications
To apply, you should have
- A(n) (almost) completed master’s degree in biomedical-related sciences (Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Biology, Pharmacy, Rehabilitation Sciences, or other related disciplines).
- Commitment to advance the understanding and treatment of vestibular disorders through . innovative research in biology, neuroscience, neurology, otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat), and engineering.
- Excellent English presentation and writing skills.
- Good organizational and communication skills.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as well as within an interdisciplinary and international environment.
- Additional qualifications/skills specific to a particular position are outlined at in the descriptions of the corresponding position.
EU Mobility Criteria
Successful candidates must fulfil the mobility criteria defined by the European Commission. Specifically:
- At the time of recruitment by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date.
- Applicants should not already be in possession of a PhD title
Additional Information
For more information about a specific position please contact the person indicated for that position. For general information about the PROVIDE doctoral network, please contact provide@umcg.nl.
Applying for the Position
We welcome your application if you are interested in and qualified for one or more of the PhD positions. To apply, send your CV, motivation letter and additional supporting materials (e.g., letters of reference) to Dr. Jordi Llorens (jllorens@ub.edu) with a copy to the PROVIDE management (provide@umcg.nl). The application deadline is 25 August 2024.
Project Description
Challenge 1: Advance Understanding of the Individual Aetiology Underlying Vestibular Loss
Vestibular dysfunction arises from damage to sensorineural structures in the inner ear. Traditional methods fall short in linking this damage to specific symptoms associated with vestibular disorders. PROVIDE leverages innovative techniques to examine biopsies, animal models, and inner ear organoids, to identify the causes of dysfunction and pioneer new treatments for vestibular disorders. PhD position 2 falls within this overarching challenge of the PROVIDE network.
PhD Student 2: Linking functional deficits with peripheral pathology in vestibular loss
Host organisation: University of Barcelona, Spain
Contact: Prof. Jordi Llorens jllorens@ub.edu
The doctoral candidate will use cutting edge techniques—including vestibular reflex tests, videography, RNAscope technology, transcriptomics, immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, and quantitative imaging—to correlate functional deficits with inner ear pathology assessed using both animal models and biopsy samples from individuals with vestibular loss.
Additional qualifications: Experience with animal models, as well as skills in immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy, are highly valued.
Estimated Gross salary (per month) €3704.20*