Welcome to Maastricht University!

What if metabolically induced inflammation could help explain why COPD develops and progresses? In this PhD project, you will use innovative data analysis approaches and unique, deeply phenotyped cohorts to investigate the complex relationship between dietary factors, metabolic disturbances and COPD pathology, and explore how targeted nutritional and pharmacological interventions may influence this process.

PhD Candidate in Metabolic Inflammation and COPD

• Our goal: to better understand how diet-induced metabolic alterations and metaflammation contribute to the development and progression of. By uncovering these mechanisms and relationships, the project aims to provide a basis for innovative nutritional and pharmacological intervention strategies.
• Your colleagues: you will become part of the Department of Respiratory Medicine and be embedded in NUTRIM Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism. Here, you will join a multidisciplinary research environment where clinical and experimental researchers closely collaborate with colleagues from the Maastricht University Medical Center. The project will be led at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences by Dr. Rosanne Beijers who will provide daily supervision. 

   

COPD is a heterogeneous lung disease driven by complex interactions between environmental exposures and individual susceptibility determinants. Next to smoking and air pollution, dietary quality is increasingly identified as modulator of COPD development and progression. Poor dietary quality is reflected in abdominal obesity as source of metaflammation even in normal weight. Also, alterations in the gut microbiome have been shown in COPD as potential contributors but the role of metaflammation in disease progression is poorly understood.

What you do

In this project, you will investigate whether diet-induced metabolic alterations are associated with metaflammation and influence the risk of COPD. You will also investigate the potential attenuating effects of targeted nutritional or pharmacological interventions.

Using innovative data analysis techniques, you will help unravel the complex relationship between dietary factors, metabolic disturbances and COPD pathology, providing a starting point for the development of innovative intervention strategies. You will present your findings at (inter)national conferences, report your research in scientific publications and work in an interdisciplinary clinical environment.

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you. 

What you bring 

We’re not looking for checkboxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

You are curious, enthusiastic and eager to learn, with a strong interest in the research area. You work accurately and meticulously, while being able to work independently as well as as part of a team. You are open to learning new data analysis techniques and approaches and have strong organisational and communication skills.

In addition, you have:

• A master’s degree (MSc) in Data Science, Epidemiology, (Bio)Medical, Health or Nutritional sciences.
• A strong interest in the research area of metaflammation, dietary factors, metabolic disturbances and COPD pathology.
• Interest in advanced data analysis if your master’s degree is in (bio)medical or nutritional sciences. Preferably you have experience with working with large datasets in statistical software packages such as R, Python or SPSS.
• Proficiency in English at C1 level or higher (CEFR), both written and spoken.

What we offer
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer: 

•  A 12-month contract (1,0 FTE) with the prospect of a 3 year extension by mutual satisfaction.
• A gross monthly salary between € 3.204 and € 4.051 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus. 
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours. 
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home. 
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas. 
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with. 
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities. 
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe. 

About the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
FHML is committed to health in the broadest sense: from molecule to human, and from healthcare to prevention. We train healthcare professionals and researchers through innovative educational programmes and conduct groundbreaking research in health and well-being. As part of Maastricht UMC+ (MUMC+), our international and interdisciplinary community forms a unique collaboration between university and academic hospital, where education, research, and care come together.

Interested? 
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Dr. Rosanne Beijers at [email protected] / +3143 388 2990. The deadline for submitting your application is 15 October 2026.

Apply now via the button below. We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

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.