PhD position in Understanding the mechanistic pathways of repetitive traumatic brain injury

Repeated head impacts can lead to brain damage that manifests decades later as Alzheimers Parkinsons and motor neuron disease. However the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Are you passionate about uncovering what happens to the brain during impact subsequent injury and how the injury evolves or resolves afterwards Then we are inviting you to join our interdisciplinary research teams to explore the long-term effects of repetitive traumatic brain injury (rTBI) in both humans and mouse models.

Join us!

This PhD position offers you the opportunity to work at the crossroads of (translational) neuroscience and applied physics and biomechanics contributing to a project with major implications for health prevention in groups at high-risk of TBI such as athletes and military personnel.

The project aims to (1) differentiate the mechanical response of the head and brain between focal and diffuse loads (2) determine the molecular and cellular changes in animal models of rTBI and how rTBI affects behaviour and cognition and (3) translate these findings from animal models to humans.

What you will do

This project is a collaboration between the Swammerdam Institute or Life Sciences (SILS) University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Part of this project will be carried out at TNO The Hague location Ypenburg at the department of Personal Protection and Explosive Safety. The department is part of the TNO unit Defence Safety & Security.

This project is a follow up of our previous published work on traumatic brain injury:

a PhD candidate in our group you will study and model the biomechanical chain of events following (blast) impacts on the brain as well as the long-lasting molecular and structural changes inside the brain and their effects on behavior and cognition. Translational aspects from animal models to humans and vice versa will be a focus. You will also investigate the predictive value of potential biomarkers for brain structural changes and effects.

Besides lab experiments you will be using your technical skills to simulate impacts and loads from blasts to the brain using numerical models. You will employ cutting-edge modelling and neurobiological techniques behavioral animal tests advanced analytical methods while collaborating with laboratory scientists and modelling and data specialists between the TNO and UvA-SILS labs.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• complete a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration (four years);

• systematically and independently designing performing and documenting experiments;

• setting up and running numerical models to complement experimental work;
• be an active and responsible member of both our research groups;
• discussing work with group members and during departmental meetings and incorporate their feedback;

• taking a leading role in writing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• participating in PhD training programme of the University of Amsterdam and The Graduate School Neurosciences Amsterdam Rotterdam (ONWAR);
• assist teaching and supervision of Bachelor and Master students at the UvA.

You will get the opportunity to:

• present results at (inter)national scientific conferences;
• expand your academic professional and personal skills;
• contribute to science communication and outreach activities;
• thrive in a team that values impactful research and mutual support;
• combine the advantages that a collaborative project offers such as access to state-of-the art research facilities at both the SILS-UvA and to those of the TNO laboratories of location Ypenburg The Hague

What we ask of you

Your experience and profile:

• a Masters degree in biomedical sciences and/or (biomedical) engineering human movement science (cognitive) neuroscience or similar;
• a strong affinity and hands-on experience with experimental work with laboratory animals and/or molecular and cellular biology. Having an Article 9 certificate to work with laboratory animals is a pre-requisite;
• a strong (proven) interest in numerical and computational/physical modelling of force transmission onto objects is preferred and/or expertise on injury biomechanics or traumatic brain injury is a plus;
• fluent in English both written and spoken.

You are dedicated accurate stress-resistant a pleasant colleague well organized and prepared to and capable of working at 2 different locations.

What we offer you

We offer a temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years).The preferred starting date is as soon as possible. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from 3.059 in the first year to 3.881 (scale P) in the last year. This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 83% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD candidate is applicable. A favourable tax agreement the 30% ruling may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Curious about our extensive secondary benefits package You can read more about it here.

You will work in this team

TheFaculty of Science has a student body of around 8000 as well as 1800 members of staff working in education research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works be it elementary particles the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain. The position is located within the team of Dr. Carlos Fitzsimons () part of the Brain Plasticity group of the Swammerdam institute of the Faculty of Science.

The Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) is located at the vibrant Amsterdam Science Park. SILS is one of eight institutes of the University of Amsterdams Faculty of Science (FNWI). With around 240 employees SILS carries out internationally high-quality life science research and provides education within various university programs. Research is also carried out in close cooperation with the medical biotech chemical flavor food & agricultural and high-tech industries and revolves around 4 main themes Cell & Systems biology Neurosciences Microbiology and Green Life Sciences.

Within the Brain Plasticity group of SILS we study how our brain adapts to changes in an (often challenging) environment. We try to understand how plasticity is programmed and how external factors like (early life) stress nutrition drugs exercise or enrichment) can modify plasticity and what role it plays in cognition and disorders such as depression and dementia.

Your work will take place partially at the Personal Protection Team of the research group Personal Protection and Explosion Safety at TNO Defence Safety and Security. This group works on the protection of people against explosions and head impact ensuring worker safety for military and safety personnel.

If you feel the profile fits you and you are interested in the job we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the button below. We accept applications until and including February 22 2026.

As you will be working in an environment with clients in the domain of defense and security a Certificate of No Objection issued by AIVD (the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service) is mandatory. This means you will have to undergo a security screening. Read more aboutsecurity screening. Working at the relevant TNO location can only commence once the screening has been successfully completed.

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• a detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
• a letter of motivation;

• a list of specific courses and possibly publications highlighting your training and expertise;
• the names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.

A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure(for details:national knowledge security guidelines). Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.

If you have any questions or do you require additional information Please contact:

• Dr. Carlos Fitzsimons