Vacature Research Assistant Clinical trial: weight loss & metabolism

Research Assistant Clinical trial: weight loss & metabolism in Maastricht

Welcome to Maastricht University! Are you passionate about obesity and metabolic health, and eager to contribute to the development of improved weight loss strategies in people with obesity? Then join our highly dynamic international team at the Department of Human Biology at Maastricht University. As a research assistant, you will contribute to a clinical study investigating the effects of a novel obesity management drug on energy metabolism compared to similar weight loss achieved by a low-energy diet, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. This position will allow you to perform cutting-edge research in the field of obesity management, and work in close cooperation with the Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus and industry.

Research Assistant Clinical trial: weight loss, energy metabolism and metabolic health

• Our goal: The aim of this project is to determine the effect of a novel, unimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist on energy metabolism and cardiometabolic health compared to diet-induced weight loss or placebo in adults living with obesity, and examine underlying mechanisms.
• Your colleagues: You will work in a young, international and multidisciplinary research group specialized in obesity and metabolic health, embedded within the Department of Human Biology (NUTRIM), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at Maastricht University. As part of a team involved in the execution of a two-center randomized clinical trial, you will also collaborate with colleagues from the Department of Internal Medicine, Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus and Novo Nordisk. This practical study offers an excellent introduction into clinical research and may serve as a mutual acquaintance for those who are interested in progressing to a PhD position within our research group.

Obesity is a complex chronic disease that acts as a gateway to many noncommunicable diseases. Weight loss is the most effective strategy to improve cardiometabolic health and quality of life in people with obesity, and can prevent or reverse several obesity-related complications. During weight loss, biological changes such as metabolic adaptation (reduction in energy expenditure below predicted values) may hamper further weight loss and weight loss maintenance. The extent of such biological adaptations may depend of the way weight loss is achieved.

As a research assistant, you will contribute to the execution of a clinical trial investigating the effects of a unimolecular GLP-1/amylin receptor agonist on energy metabolism and cardiometabolic health compared to similar weight loss achieved by a low-energy diet. Our basic and translational research group (headed by Prof. G.H. Goossens and Prof. E.E. Blaak) accommodates 5 permanent scientific staff members, more than 10 PhD students and post-doctoral fellows, 2 technicians and support staff, and has access to state-of-the-art research facilities to perform human intervention studies, cell culture experiments, and molecular analysis. In this project, you will work closely together with a PhD student, post-doctoral fellow, another research assistant, a dietician, technician and clinician.

The Department of Human Biology is part of the Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), within the Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) of Maastricht University. The central research theme of the Department of Human Biology is Healthy Living with Obesity, Sarcopenia, Energy metabolism and Cardiometabolic Health as spearheads. NUTRIM catalyses translational research into metabolic and chronic inflammatory disorders, and aims to contribute to health maintenance and personalized medicine by unraveling lifestyle and disease-induced derangements in metabolism, and by developing targeted nutritional, exercise and drug interventions. Within NUTRIM, approximately 400 scientists including 245 PhD students, and an additional 70 support staff members work interdisciplinary together in 16 biomedical, clinical, and behavioral-science departments. NUTRIM is partner within unique consortia in which academia, industry and the government join forces to stimulate the transfer of knowledge generated in fundamental research to Dutch industry, thereby strengthening its innovative power and competitive strength.

What you do

• Contribute to the recruitment of study participants
• Contribute to the preparation and execution of a clinical study — involving planning and execution of clinical measurements, (assisting in) sample collection, data management.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary, international team of researchers.
• Actively contributing to other research activities within the larger research group.
• Experience with human intervention studies is preferred.

Are you ready to shape the future of obesity management ? Then we’d love to meet you.

What you bring

We are not looking for checkboxes; we are interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

• Research-oriented attitude – You hold (or will have before start) a HBO/BSc/MSc degree in biomedical sciences, health sciences, nutrition, or movement sciences, or a related field, you are meticulous, and have interest and affinity for academic research.
• Collaborative and organized – You contribute effectively within a multidisciplinary team, and manage complex experimental timelines.
• Pro-active – You take initiative, anticipate needs, are hard-working and persistent.
• Collaborative mindset – You actively engage with team members and stakeholders, communicate clearly and contribute effectively within a research team to achieve common goals.
  
  

What we offer

At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. In addition to working on a challenging research project, we offer:

• A temporary 36-month contract (1.0 FTE). Employment period will be for 12-months with the perspective of prolongation after evaluation with 24-months extension.
• A gross monthly salary based on experience between € 3057,- and € 3985,- (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

About the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) FHML is committed to health in the broadest sense: from molecule to human, and from healthcare to prevention. We train healthcare professionals and researchers through innovative educational programmes and conduct groundbreaking research in health and well-being. As part of Maastricht UMC+ (MUMC+), our international and interdisciplinary community forms a unique collaboration between university and academic hospital, where education, research, and care come together.

Interested?

Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Prof. Dr. Gijs Goossens at

• The end date of the publication is 30 April 2026.
• Please upload your CV, motivation letter and contact information of at least 1 referee.
• The interviews for this position will take place in May 2026.
• The preferred start date is June 2026.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Apply now via the button below. We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students.

We encourage you to apply for this position.