"(Arts-)Onderzoeker/Promovendus Cardiologie"

As a PhD candidate, you will be involved in international clinical research under the supervision of an experienced team. You will participate in the organization and execution of research in the clinic and cardiac catheterization labs, including statistical analysis of data and publication of results in scientific journals. The research period will lead to an academic PhD within 3 years.

This project focuses on improving the diagnosis of patients with chest pain using cardiac MRI. Traditionally, CT scans or cardiac catheterization are used to assess coronary artery narrowings, but these do not always predict if the narrowing causes pain or if treatments like stenting or bypass surgery will alleviate symptoms. Cardiac MRI allows for assessing heart muscle blood flow. This European project aims to enhance blood flow measurements via cardiac MRI and compare them with catheterization data, creating a 'one-stop-shop' for chest pain diagnosis.

You will also contribute to ongoing research in the group, including data analysis from large datasets, clinical studies on new treatments for (refractory) angina pectoris, and translational research on its pathophysiology. We offer a challenging PhD trajectory with clinical and scientific tasks under good supervision, with opportunities to develop your own ideas.

The project duration is 36 months, funded by the European Union. As a PhD candidate, you will be affiliated with the Utrecht University Graduate School of Life Sciences, which provides a wide selection of courses, workshops, and colloquia.

Requirements: We seek an enthusiastic medical doctor with interest in patient-oriented research in clinical cardiology, particularly interventional cardiology. Graduates in technical medicine with a master's in signal analysis are encouraged to apply. You should have demonstrable affinity for patient research (experience is a plus), be eager to learn, able to quickly acquire knowledge, and see challenges in managing large clinical studies. Excellent planning, coordination, and quality assurance skills are required. Experience with programming in STATA and/or R for statistical methods is a plus. You must be a team player in a dynamic environment, with excellent communication skills, and proficient in Dutch and English.

Department: Our department provides comprehensive cardiology care, emphasizing tertiary and last-resort treatments. We offer a full range of diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions, including coronary procedures, valve interventions, arrhythmia treatments, congenital heart defect corrections, mechanical support, and heart transplantation. We are a center of expertise for refractory angina pectoris and excel in diagnosing and treating complex patients.