PhD position in exercise physiology

PhD Position: Muscle Abnormalities in ME/CFS

Project Description

Reduced exercise capacity and post-exertional malaise (PEM) are hallmark symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), but the underlying causes are still not fully understood. The main goal of this project is to gain deeper insight into the muscle abnormalities linked to exercise limitations and PEM, with the aim of improving patients' quality of life. The PhD candidate will analyze existing data from Harvard Medical School to investigate the connection between different types of exercise limitations and muscle changes. Additionally, you will collect new data using non-invasive techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to study muscle changes in patients with ME/CFS and healthy individuals. This will help to develop these non-invasive measurements and assess their utility for detecting muscle changes in clinical research and care.

Your duties

• You will work in the Department of Human Movement Sciences within the Physiology Section and also perform MRI experiments at Amsterdam UMC.
• You will collaborate with several PhD students, postdocs and staff members.
• You will be working on a combination of topics in a collaborative environment, including cell biology, muscle physiology and exercise physiology.
• You will co-design and implement an experimental approach, measuring skeletal muscle physiology from micro- to macroscale obtained by a wide array of methodologies, including CPET, NIRS, MRI, 31P-MRS and respirometry, in healthy controls and patients with ME/CFS.
• You will collect, analyse and curate these multi-modal datasets.
• Your will write several scientific publications about the collected data.
• You will present your findings in local meetings and at (inter-)national conferences.
• You will have opportunities to gain educational experience (optional)
• You will have the opportunity to take courses for professional and personal development.

At the end of this four-year program, you will write your research findings in a PhD thesis and defend it.

Your profile

• Master's degree in Movement Sciences (Exercise Sciences, Sport Sciences or Kinesiology), Technical Medicine or Biomedical Sciences
• You have a strong affinity for both experimental science and advanced data analysis using Matlab and/or Python.
• You have a deep understanding of muscle exercise physiology/or human physiology, from the cellular to the whole-body level. Knowledge or experience of NIRS, MRI, and high resolution respirometry or wet lab experience will be an advantage.
• You have experience working with human subjects or patients and possess excellent communication skills to collaborate effectively with patients, clinicians, and other researchers.
• You are fluent in English, both verbally and in writing.

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What we offer

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of € 3.059,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.881,00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for a full-time employment
• an employment contract of initially 1 year. If there is sufficient perspective, this will be extended to a total of 4 years. Your dissertation at the end of the fourth year forms the end of your employment contract.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• group insured for partial disability with employer contribution of 50% of the premium
• space for personal development

The team

The project will be supervised by Dr. Melissa Hooijmans and Dr. Richie Goulding both assistant professors at the Department of Human Movement Sciences at the Vrije University. Other collaborators include Dr. Rob Wust. All supervisors are embedded within the Physiology Section of the Department of Human Movement Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. This section works on a wide range of topics in exercise and muscle physiology across the full hierarchy of biological organization: from the physiology of thermoregulation and in vivo performance to mechanistic molecular studies performed in cell culture or animal models.

Department of Human Movement Sciences

The Department of Human Movement Sciences performs research on the human musculoskeletal system, on the way people move, and on how human movement can be influenced in the context of sports, health, physical education and rehabilitation. Our research is multi-disciplinary: we combine anatomy, physiology, psychology and biomechanics to understand and improve human movement. We provide educational programs at the BSc and MSc levels in the same domain, with a strong emphasis on scientific training. In addition, we have a research-based PhD program. The department has a strong commitment to theory development and innovative research, but we also prioritize the societal value of our research and devote ample time and attention to translation of our research findings to promote their application in practice. The department provides a vibrant climate with high quality teaching and research staff and PhD-students who are supported by excellent facilities (e.g., multiple labs for experimental research, equipment for movement analysis and physiological measurements, as well as high-quality engineering support to develop custom-made equipment and set-ups).

Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences

Developing knowledge for an active, healthy and meaningful life: that is our mission at the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences at VU Amsterdam. We maintain a broad focus on the fields of behaviour and health. Our teaching and research programmes are devoted to current developments in society. From healthy aging to e-health, and from training top athletes to social media as a teaching tool. We combine three academic disciplines: psychology, movement sciences and education. A multidisciplinary approach allows us to arrive at a better understanding of human behaviour and movement. Our aims are to help people live healthier lives, learn better and function better.

Are you interested in joining Behavioural and Movement Sciences? You are the kind of person who feels at home working in an ambitious faculty, with an informal atmosphere and short lines of communication. We offer you all the space you need for personal development. Together with your 630 colleagues, you will take care of about 4,200 students.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research.

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity

Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.