Scholarships provide promising students with access to education regardless of their financial circumstances. Therefore, Maastricht University is providing PhD Positions in Lipids and Cardiovascular Risk for international students.

Applicants must hold a relevant master’s degree in biology, biomedicine, biotechnology, biochemistry, or a related field, demonstrate strong motivation and proficiency in English, and meet the MSCA mobility rule (not having lived or worked in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the past 3 years).

Maastricht University (UM) is a leading international public university in the Netherlands, known for its innovative Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach that emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem solving. With a strong focus on research and education across health, medicine, life sciences, social sciences, and technology, UM offers a dynamic and inclusive academic environment for students and researchers worldwide.

Application Deadline: January 31, 2026

Brief Details

• University or Organization: Maastricht University (UM)
• Department: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) – CARIM, M4I, Nutrim
• Course Level: PhD (Doctoral Degree)
• Award: PhD position (salary-based MSCA Doctoral Network contract)
• Access Mode: Online
• Number of Awards: 3
• Nationality: Domestic and international
• The award can be taken in: the Netherlands

Eligibility

• Eligible Countries: Open to applicants of any nationality, subject to MSCA mobility rules
• Acceptable Course or Subjects: The scholarship will be awarded in lipid research, cardiovascular research, lipidomics, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, and related natural sciences offered by Maastricht University.
• Admissible Criteria: To be eligible, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Hold a Master’s degree (MSc) in Biology, Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or a related field before 01 September 2026

• Have a strong interest in cardiovascular disease and lipid research

• Be highly motivated, independent, and able to work collaboratively in an international environment

• Demonstrate fluency in English, both written and spoken

• Comply with MSCA mobility rules: applicants must not have lived or worked in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the last 3 years prior to recruitment

Project-specific requirements:

• Project 1: Interest or experience in cell culture, molecular biology, patient studies, or animal models

• Projects 2 & 3: Interest or expertise in mass spectrometry and lipidomics

How to Apply

To apply for this position, applicants must apply online through the university.

Applicants should submit:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Motivation letter (indicating preferred doctoral project)

• Reference letter

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with the first screening starting on 1 February 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by email.

Benefits

Successful candidates will receive:

• A 3-year full-time PhD contract (1.0 FTE) starting in 2026

• Monthly gross salary between €3,059 and €3,881, plus:

  • 8% holiday allowance

  • 8.3% year-end bonus

• 29 paid vacation days plus public holidays and compensation days

• Intensive scientific training and supervision across the LipidBRIGHT consortium

• International secondments with academic and industry partners

• Excellent employment benefits, including a pension scheme, fitness programs, and sports facilities

• Flexible working arrangements and professional development opportunities.

Apply Now