[BBC] PhD Position at Maastricht University: Identification of gene-environment interactions in the development of psychosis

[Viechtbauer Wolfgang (STAT)]

Subject: PhD Position at Maastricht University   
Project: Identification of gene-environment interactions in the development of psychosis   

[Project]

A psychotic disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and social and emotional problems. Various environmental factors, such as the use of cannabis and experiencing traumatic events, increase the risk of a psychosis, but the risk-increasing effects of these factors are much higher in people with a pre-existing genetic vulnerability. This phenomenon is also called gene-environment interaction. New technical possibilities in modern genetics, such as genome-wide genotyping, now make it possible to systematically investigate the genes that make people more susceptible to such environmental factors and the biological pathways to which these genes belong. In 2010, a major European study on the importance of gene-environment interactions in the etiology of psychotic disorders was launched. Now that the data collection phase is close to completion, there is an open position for a doctoral student to examine the genome-wide data from this study for gene-environment interactions in a systematic way.

[Tasks]

Your task is to identify genes and biological systems that interact in a plausible manner with relevant environmental factors. For this purpose, you derive sets of genes linked together in a biologically plausible way and analyze whether they can explain sensitivity to environmental factors. You work on large data sets that have already been collected. The development of new and/or the application of advanced statistical methods to analyze such data, in consultation with a statistician, is an important ambition of the project.

[Requirements]

Graduated in bioinformatics or a related discipline. Good communication skills, fluent in English, and some affinity for research on psychiatric disorders. Demonstrated interest in clinical research. Some research experience is recommended.

[Conditions of employment]

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply (see http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/web/Main/Employees/AZ.htm). This is a temporary employment for 4 years. Your salary would be € 2.083,-- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.664,-- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-student salary scale. Each year an evaluation will take place.

[Organization]

Maastricht University (http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/) is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 15,000 students and 4,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

The School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (http://mhens.unimaas.nl/) is one of the internationally leading institutes on neuroscience research, and aims at advancing our understanding of brain-behavior relationships by adopting an integrated approach between the various disciplines in neuro- and behavioral science, medicine, and the life sciences. The project is embedded in Division 2, Cognitive Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neuroscience. The mission of Division 2 is to generate new insights into the neurocognitive and neurobehavioral mechanisms in order to improve treatment and care for people with cognitive disorders and other neurological disorders.

[Contact]

For more information about this position and/or to submit your application materials (CV, letter of motivation, and contact information for two references), please contact Dr. Ruud van Winkel at: ruud.vanwinkel at maastrichtuniversity.nl

Dr. Ruud van Winkel   
Dr. Wolfgang Viechtbauer   
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology   
School for Mental Health and Neuroscience   
Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences   
Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616 (VIJV1)   
6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands