"PhD student Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Therapy - Ketones as a new strategy to improve muscular rehabilitation and exercise adaptations"

Background

Within the context of the further development of the research of the REVAL research center at Hasselt University, the faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences has a vacancy for a PhD fellow (100%) to investigate the role of ketones in stimulating functional and molecular (muscle) adaptations during rehabilitation. The PhD is supervised by Prof. Chiel Poffé (principal supervisor) and Prof. Evelien Van Roie (co-supervisor). This PhD is done in close collaboration with rehabilitation centers and you can use a new biochemical muscle lab. You will be part of the faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences at UHasselt. This faculty organizes an educational program consisting of a 3-year academic bachelor's and a 2-year master's program within Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy. This program has approximately 850 students. The faculty also provides education in the inter-university master's program in Occupational Therapy.

Within the faculty, REVAL ACADEMY organizes interdisciplinary continuing education courses aimed at healthcare and rehabilitation professionals. The proposed research is conducted within the rehabilitation research group REVAL. REVAL is an interdisciplinary and translational research group that conducts research in the fields of pediatric, geriatric, neurological, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, biomechanics, health psychology, mental health, and rehabilitation of internal disorders. Within the perspective of a “civic university,” the RELAB platform facilitates the provision of evidence-based advice to individuals with functioning problems and professionals within the healthcare sector, as well as to companies.

Job content

Periods of reduced muscular activity are inherent to many conditions (e.g., immobilization after injury, bedrest upon illness). After only a few days, such inactivity will lead to reduced muscle mass and function, and ultimately impaired metabolic health. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies that can mitigate these degenerative consequences, and promote subsequent rehabilitation.

Within this project, we aim to investigate the potential of ketone administration (i) to counteract functional and molecular disturbances during immobilization, and (ii) to promote subsequent rehabilitation. This will be done via interventional studies in older adults, and in patients with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. These studies will combine physiological in-vivo measurements (muscle strength, exercise capacity,...) and biochemical analyses on skeletal muscle and blood samples. You are expected to follow the guidelines of the Doctoral School of Hasselt University.

Profile

• You hold a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Movement Sciences, Biomedical Sciences or Medicine (or equivalent). Final-year students are (likewise) encouraged to apply.
• You achieved good to excellent academic results.
• You have a strong interest in exercise and muscle physiology.
• Experience with functional or biochemical analyses and affinity for exercise training are a plus.
• You have an understanding of designing, conducting, and analyzing experimental research designs.
• You have strong problem-solving skills, are flexible, have organizational skills and are stress-resistant.
• You communicate excellently and have a good knowledge of English, both oral and written. Knowledge of Dutch is considered a plus.
• You enjoy working in a team and actively contribute to a positive working atmosphere.
• You easily make connections between people working in different fields (practice assistants, doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, clinicians, professors).

Offer

You will be appointed and paid as PhD student. Position for 2 years. After positive evaluation one time extendable with 2 years. Position at Hasselt University.

Selection procedure

You can only apply online up to and including 08 September 2025. The selection procedure consists of a preselection based on application file and an interview. A presentation or assignment may complement the selection procedure.

Further information

Prof. dr. Chiel POFFÉ, +32-11-268947, chiel.poffe@uhasselt.be

Job details

Title: PhD student Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Therapy - Ketones as a new strategy to improve muscular rehabilitation and exercise adaptations

Employer: Hasselt University

Location: Martelarenlaan 42 Hasselt, Belgium

Published: 2025-08-26

Application deadline: 2025-09-08 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)

Job type: PhD

Field: Physiology, Biochemistry, Biomedicine, Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Medicine, Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology