PhD : Modeling TTN Variants in Inherited Heart Disease

Welcome to Maastricht University! What if you could uncover how genetic variation in one of the largest human genes reshapes the heart—and translate that knowledge into targeted therapies? As a PhD candidate, you will investigate how TTN truncating variants drive inherited heart disease, using advanced human-derived cardiac tissue models within the national PRECISE consortium.

• Our goal: To unravel how TTN truncating variants disrupt cardiac structure and function, and translate these insights into genotype‑specific therapeutic strategies.
• Your colleagues: An interdisciplinary team within the Heart Failure Research group (Prof. Stephane Heymans and Dr. Martijn Hoes) at CARIM, collaborating nationally through the PRECISE consortium.

Inherited cardiomyopathies caused by truncating variants in the TTN gene represent a major challenge in cardiovascular medicine. While genetic diagnostics have advanced rapidly, understanding the functional consequences of these variants and how to intervene requires robust human disease models.

As a PhD candidate, you will generate and study human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes and engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs). You will develop patient-specific cardiac models to identify convergent disease pathways and therapeutic targets. By combining stem cell biology, tissue engineering, gene editing, and deep phenotyping, you help bridge the gap between genetic discovery and functional validation.

Within the PRECISE consortium, you collaborate with a multidisciplinary national network. You contribute to genotype-specific target validation, participate in the PRECISE Early Career program, and present your findings at international conferences. Your work will culminate in high-impact peer‑reviewed publications and a PhD thesis that advances precision medicine in inherited heart disease.

It’s not about ticking boxes – it’s about who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

• Scientifically driven and meticulous – You are motivated to dissect molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac disease and translate them into meaningful insights.
• Strong academic foundation – You hold a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Biology, Physiology, or a related field.
• Affinity with stem cell and cardiac biology – You have experience with, or a strong desire to learn, hiPSC culture, differentiation, and disease modeling.
• Technically curious and innovative – Experience with tissue engineering or gene editing is highly desirable.
• Analytically skilled – You are comfortable managing and interpreting complex datasets; experience with R or Python for (omics) analysis is a plus.
• Collaborative and organized – You manage complex experimental timelines and thrive in a multidisciplinary consortium environment.
• Clear communicator – You demonstrate excellent written and spoken English and can present scientific findings with clarity and impact.

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 upon positive evaluation.
• A gross monthly salary between €3059,00 and €3881,00 (based on full‑time employment of 38 hours per week), in accordance with the CAO NU, plus 8 % holiday allowance and an 8.3 % year‑end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full‑time), four additional public holidays, and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home, where the nature of your work allows it.
• A monthly commuting and internet allowance.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to extensive university sports facilities.
• A wide range of training programmes and initiatives supporting your personal and professional development.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

FHML is committed to health in the broadest sense: from molecule to human, and from healthcare to prevention. We train healthcare…