MSCA-DN PhD position: Functional micronutrient status in critically ill patients

Micronutrient deficiencies are common in critically ill patients and may significantly delay recovery. Current diagnostic methods are often insufficient. As a result, clinical care often relies on fixed-dose supplementation instead of personalised treatment strategies.

Within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions–funded BIO-MICRO project, this PhD project aims to improve diagnostic approaches for assessing functional micronutrient status using innovative analytical methods. Improved diagnostics may help identify patient subphenotypes that are most likely to benefit from targeted micronutrient therapy.

A multicentre, prospective, observational clinical study will be conducted with four cohorts of 55 participants each, representing increasing severity of expected micronutrient deficiencies:

• healthy volunteers;
• patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery;
• critically ill patients;
• burn patients.

Serial measurements of micronutrient concentrations will be performed in serum, leukocytes and erythrocytes. These measurements will be combined with biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Using integrated laboratory and clinical data, empirically derived algorithms will be developed to identify patient subphenotypes through latent profile analysis.

Research Fellowship 5 (RF5): Functional micronutrient status in critically ill patients
Duration: 48 months
Supervisors:

• Dr Angelique de Man (Amsterdam UMC)
• Dr Maurits de Rotte (Amsterdam UMC)
• Dr Lennard Dekker (Reinier Haga Medical Diagnostic Center)
• Dr Linda IJsselstijn (Reinier Haga Medical Diagnostic Center)

As a PhD candidate, you will coordinate this multicentre observational clinical study. You will:

• include patients in the study;
• obtain deferred consent from family members;
• ensure the collection of serial blood samples;
• perform laboratory analyses to assess functional micronutrient status;
• maintain accurate data entry in the electronic case report form.

You will also oversee study activities across all participating centres.

During the secondments, you will contribute to translating research outcomes into clinical practice. This includes working on the commercialisation of micronutrient assays in erythrocytes and leukocytes.

We are looking for a highly motivated and proactive researcher who can work both independently and within an interdisciplinary team. You demonstrate precision, resilience and strong communication skills. The project is expected to result in the successful completion of a PhD thesis.

Required qualifications and experience:

• a Master’s degree in Medicine;
• excellent command of English, both written and spoken; proficiency in Dutch is an advantage;
• knowledge of statistics and experience with data analysis.

Desirable skills (not essential):

• experience with medical or scientific writing;
• laboratory experience.

Note: Important strict eligibility criteria according to MARIE SKLODOWSKA CURIE programs:

1. You must not already hold a doctoral degree.
2. At the time of the application deadline, you must also have a  Master's degree and must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the three years prior to the contract start date.
3. As part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie project, the position includes two intersectoral secondments of six months each at partner organisations in Appingedam and Delft.