Summary
Erasmus MC is offering a PhD position focused on dementia prevention and risk prediction. The successful candidate will unravel risk factors using unique data from over 18,000 Rotterdam residents, contributing to prognostic models within a leading national consortium. This project aims to improve dementia prevention by understanding risk and protective factors and developing prognostic models for use in primary and secondary care settings.
Designation
PhD Candidate (Promovendus)
Scholarship Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Vacancy Number | 3124 |
| Working Hours | 36 hours per week |
| Contract Duration | 42 months (temporary) |
| Salary (1st Year) | €3,217 gross per month |
| Salary (4th Year) | €4,077 gross per month |
| Salary (Research Physician) | €3,724 – €5,867 gross per month |
| CAO Salary Increase | 3.5% per May 2027 |
| Additional Benefits | 13th month, travel allowance (100% public transport), ABP pension (70% employer contribution), possibility of partial remote work, on-site sports facilities, bicycle repair, free physiotherapy. |
Research Area
Dementia prevention, risk prediction, epidemiological research, neuroimaging, prognostic model development, primary care, secondary care, brain diseases.
Location
Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Eligibility/Qualification
- A (nearly) completed university degree in Medicine.
- Strong interest in brain diseases, healthcare, and quantitative science.
- Desire to contribute to nationally and internationally leading research.
- Proficiency in both English and Dutch languages is required.
Scholarship Description
As a PhD candidate, you will apply recent advancements in preventive factors and blood-based disease markers to improve care for individuals with memory complaints. Your main goal will be to enhance dementia prevention through a deeper understanding of risk and protective factors, and to develop prognostic models to assess dementia risk in general practices and memory clinics. You will utilize clinical data, brain imaging, and other predictors to identify individuals at highest risk of complications and guide care more effectively. This collaborative project involves the departments of Epidemiology, Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Neurology, and Geriatrics.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assess research participants at the outpatient clinic and study center.
- Collect data from medical records and analyze it in relation to research questions.
- Present results at national and international conferences, in scientific publications, to lay audiences, and in your dissertation.
- Contribute as a registration physician for reports within the Prion Disease Registration Center at Erasmus MC, in close collaboration with the local outpatient clinic for rapid-progressive dementia diagnostics.
- Collaborate within the national BIRD-NL prevention consortium and participate in the population-based Rotterdam Study (ERGO research), a cohort of over 18,000 Rotterdam residents with long-term data on dementia incidence.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply via the application button on the Erasmus MC vacancy page. The application process involves several steps:
- Application: Submit your application online. You will receive an immediate confirmation.
- Selection: Your application will be reviewed to determine suitability. You will be informed if you are invited for an interview.
- Interview: An initial interview will be conducted to get acquainted and assess mutual fit. A second interview may follow.
- Terms of Employment: Upon successful interviews, salary and employment terms will be discussed, along with information on other benefits.
- Start Date: Begin your work at Erasmus MC and receive all necessary information from your new department.
Last Date for Apply
September 25, 2026







