The Research Intensive Mental Health and Neuroscience Institute at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (Maastricht University – UM) is looking for talented researchers to apply for a MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025 grant.

Hosting offers are open in the following subject areas (more info below):

1. Neuroimaging/neuromodulation (supervisor Prof David Linden)
2. Cognitive Neuroscience; goal-directed behaviour; computational models of learning and decision-making; functional magnetic resonance imaging (supervisor Dr Dennis Hernaus)
3. Cerebrovascular diseases (supervisor Dr Sebastien Foulquier)
4. invasive and non-invasive neuromonitoring; cerebral perfusion, cerebral autoregulation; critically ill patients (supervisor Dr Marcel Aries)
5. Computational/AI modeling of vision loss and restoration (supervisor Dr Birke Benedikter, Dr Mario Senden).
6. Ophthalmology, Tear Fluid Research (supervisor Dr Marlies Gijs)

7. Speech Brain-Computer Interfaces (supervisor Dr Christian Herff)

    

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships:

MSCA Postdoctoral fellowship provide a unique opportunity to enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD (i.e. having completed their PhD at the call deadline of September 10th 2025) and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships will be open to excellent researchers of any nationality.

Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to the EU call deadline. Candidates must be willing to relocate to Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Maastricht University:

Maastricht University (UM), the European university of the Netherlands, has nearly 22,000 students and 5,000 staff. We are young, interdisciplinary and socially engaged, which is evident in everything we do. Despite our relatively recent establishment, we have already built a strong reputation through our excellent research and education, and by connecting science with regional, European and global challenges. We rank among the best young universities in the world.

MHeNs:

MHeNs, Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute strives to advance our understanding of brain-behaviour relationships by using an approach integrating various disciplines in neuro- and behavioural science, medicine, and the life sciences. MHeNs performs high-impact neuroscience research and educates master’s students and PhD researchers. MHeNs performs translational research, meaning practical collaboration between researchers in the lab and in the hospital and in close collaboration with the Faculty for Psychology and Neuroscience and School of Business and Economics (Centre for Integrative Neuroscience). Find more info here.

More info about the Subject Areas of our Hosting offers:

Neuroimaging/neuromodulation (supervisor Prof David Linden):

Our group is working on closed-loop systems for neuromodulation. One key area of interest in neurofeedback, for which we mainly use functional MRI. We use neurofeedback both for clinical purposes (evaluation of its potential use as treatment in psychiatry and neurology) and for better understanding of networks of emotion and motivation. Another key area of interest is deep brain stimulation (DBS) and its combination with neuroimaging. Through neuroimaging we aim to understand mechanisms of DBS and ultimately improve both invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation techniques. Fellowship projects could cover any of these areas or their combination. 

Cognitive Neuroscience; goal-directed behaviour; computational models of learning and decision-making; functional magnetic resonance imaging (supervisor Dr Dennis Hernaus):

Grabbing a coffee, taking out the trash, or working towards a promotion. Achieving a goal, no matter how big or small, requires motivation. Motivation therefore plays an essential role in shaping everyday behaviour, which is also evident from the observation that disturbances in motivation - which are common across the psychopathology spectrum - result in profound and debilitating behavioural changes. Dr. Hernaus’ group is interested in the cognitive and neural mechanisms that support motivation (e.g., reinforcement learning, value-based decision-making, reward system function), and how these mechanisms are altered in people that suffer from mental illness, depression and schizophrenia in particular. This fellowship would offer an opportunity to develop a competitive proposal that will use state-of-the-art techniques (e.g., high-field neuroimaging, computational models of motivation, psychophysiology, psychopharmacology) to advance our knowledge of (ab)normal motivation. Applicants that have experience with human subjects research involving one or more of the above methods, as well as excellent programming and statistical skills, are encouraged to apply.

Cerebrovascular diseases (supervisor Dr Sebastien Foulquier):

We are seeking a talented research fellow to join our young team of biologists based at Maastricht University and embedded within both cardiovascular and neuroscience research institutes. We are studying the cerebral microcirculation and the complex interplay between endothelial cells and surrounding – mainly glial – cells. We carry experimental work ranging from cell experiments to behavioural and in vivo imaging studies. We aim to reveal key pathophysiological mechanisms affecting the glio-vascular unit in cerebral Small Vessel Disease. We hope that our findings will provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of vascular dementia. 

Applicants should ideally have experience with either cerebrovascular or microglial biology, have a strong background in in vivo imaging in addition to standard biomolecular assays and basic skills for transcriptomic analyses.  More info: https://gliovasclab.com

Invasive and non-invasive neuromonitoring; cerebral perfusion, cerebral autoregulation; critically ill patients (supervisor Dr Marcel Aries):

Brain injury remains one of the most critical challenges in intensive care medicine, whether due to primary injuries such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) or secondary insults resulting from systemic complications, including hypotension, hypoxia, and inflammation associated with septic shock. Despite significant advancements in medical science, the tools and techniques currently available for brain monitoring in intensive care settings have remained largely unchanged since the mid-20th century. To bridge this gap, we seek collaboration with a postdoctoral researcher with a strong technical background—such as biomedical engineering, physics, computer science, or related fields—who is eager to develop innovative solutions for real-time, non-invasive brain monitoring. A particular area of interest is the development of novel technologies to assess cerebral perfusion and metabolic activity in critically ill patients. The ability to monitor brain function dynamically and non-invasively would represent a paradigm shift in neurocritical care, enabling early detection of secondary brain injuries and facilitating timely interventions. This research will involve interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating cutting-edge advancements in imaging, sensor development, signal processing, and artificial intelligence with clinical expertise in neuro-intensive care. The ideal candidate will have experience in one or more of the following areas: biomedical signal processing, optical imaging techniques (such as transcranial Doppler, near-infrared spectroscopy or diffuse correlation spectroscopy), advanced computational modelling, or machine learning applications in healthcare.

Computational/AI modeling of vision loss and restoration (supervisor Dr Birke Benedikter, Dr Mario Senden):

Vision loss due to glaucoma and other optic neuropathies results from disrupted retinal ganglion cell (RGC) function and subsequent alterations in visual processing pathways. Strategies for vision restoration—such as cell replacement therapies, prosthetic devices, or neuroplasticity-driven interventions—must integrate new or artificial inputs into the visual system in a way that supports meaningful perception. We are looking for a candidate interested in exploring how the visual system adapts to progressive degeneration or imperfect restoration of retinal input and how these adaptations influence higher-order visual processing. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms is essential for optimizing therapeutic approaches that enhance visual function.

Ophthalmology, Tear Fluid Research (supervisor Dr Marlies Gijs):

Tear fluid is a rich source of biomarkers that can provide valuable insights into ocular surface disease and systemic conditions. Among these, hormones play a crucial role in maintaining ocular surface homeostasis, influencing inflammation, tear production, and overall eye health. Changes in the composition of tear fluid, including fluctuations in specific proteins, lipids, and cytokines, have been linked to conditions such as dry eye disease and other ocular surface disorders. Investigating these biomarkers can lead to improved diagnostic tools, personalized treatment approaches, and a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between systemic health and ocular function. Applicants with a strong background of the hormonal system, and who have experience with tear fluid sampling, immunoassays, proteomics, as well as excellent scientific writing and statistical skills, are encouraged to apply.

Speech Brain-Computer Interfaces (supervisor Dr Christian Herff)

Speech Brain-Computer Interfaces are envisioned to directly decode brain activity during imagining to speak into text or even acoustic speech without the need for any muscle movement. This could help patients who lost the ability to speak or open up completely new routes of communication for the general public. To achieve this ambitious goal, deep learning, computer science, neurotechnology and neuroscience need to be combined to create approaches that decode highly complex neural signal in real-time into equally complex speech and language. Currently, invasively measured brain activity provides the best possible signals for speech Brain-Computer Interfaces, which makes the department of neurosurgery an ideal host institution. 

Are you the Postdoctoral Fellow we are looking for? Are you interested in working on your own research project in one of the subject areas here above? And do you meet the MSCA eligibility criteria? We would like to hear from you!!

Please send g.delooijer@maastrichtuniversity.nl  your Expression of Interest before May 10th, indicating the subject area:

1. Short project proposal (max 2 pages, font size 11)
2. Motivation for supervisor, MHeNs and Maastricht University
3. CV (clearly indicating precise dates for eligibility purposes).

We will notify you shortly after May 17th whether your proposal has been selected.  For any additional questions, please contact Gwynned de Looijer, Senior Funding Advisor via g.delooijer@maastrichtuniversity.nl