Junior Researcher Integrated Care and Osteoarthritis

Welcome to Maastricht University!
How can we make osteoarthritis care more accessible, integrated and sustainable? And how can we bring the right care closer to people’s everyday lives? As a Junior Researcher, you will contribute to the European EUcare4OA project and help develop, implement and evaluate new approaches to osteoarthritis care across Europe.

You will become part of the multidisciplinary team of Beweeghuis Maastricht-Heuvelland, working at the intersection of research, healthcare and community-based care. Together with colleagues and international partners, you will help shape the future of integrated osteoarthritis care .

Junior Researcher Integrated Care and Osteoarthritis

Our goal: The EUcare4OA (Community-Driven, Accessible, and Resilient Ecosystem for Osteoarthritis Care) project is a European research initiative focused on transforming osteoarthritis (OA) care across Europe. Partners from the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden work together to develop, implement and evaluate an integrated, community-based care model.

The aim is to help people with osteoarthritis receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time.

EUcare4OA builds on the successful Beweeghuis Maastricht-Heuvelland model. The project aims to strengthen primary and community care by bringing together physiotherapy, patient self-management, community-based support and digital health solutions in one scalable care pathway.

As a Junior Researcher, you will contribute to several work packages within the project and help translate research into practice.

Your colleagues: You will join the multidisciplinary team of Beweeghuis Maastricht-Heuvelland, embedded within the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+). You will work at the interface of Orthopedic Surgery and Beweeghuis.

Your colleagues include orthopedic surgeons, physiotherapists, researchers, general practitioners, exercise coaches, policymakers and patient representatives. You will also work closely with international project partners from the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden.

Together, we are developing stepped-care pathways that aim to improve the accessibility, quality and sustainability of osteoarthritis care.

What you do

As a Junior Researcher, you will contribute to research activities across several EUcare4OA work packages. Your work will combine research, collaboration and the practical implementation and evaluation of integrated care .

Your activities include:

- Supporting comparative analyses of osteoarthritis care models in the participating countries.

- Collecting, managing and analysing quantitative and qualitative research data.

- Conducting literature reviews and contributing to evidence synthesis.

- Supporting stakeholder interviews, focus groups and co-creation workshops with patients, healthcare professionals, policymakers and community partners.

- Supporting the development and evaluation of integrated osteoarthritis care pathways.

- Assisting with pilot implementation and data collection within regional care networks.

- Contributing to project reports, scientific publications, presentations and dissemination activities.

- Collaborating with international project partners from the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden.

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you.

What you bring

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

You:

- Have a Master’s degree and/or a PHD in Health Sciences, Human Movement Sciences, Public Health, Epidemiology, Physiotherapy, Biomedical Sciences, Healthcare Policy or a related field.

- Have an affinity with healthcare research and innovation , and an interest in integrated care, implementation science and community-based healthcare.

- Have research skills, including experience with literature reviews, evidence synthesis and quantitative and/or qualitative research methods. Experience with data analysis software is an asset.

- Have strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills and are able to manage multiple tasks while working independently.

- Have excellent communication in Dutch (C1 level) and English. You enjoy working with researchers, healthcare professionals, patients and international project partners in a multidisciplinary environment .

What we offer
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

- A 12-month contract (0,8 fte) with the prospect of a permanent contract based on mutual satisfaction.

- A gross monthly salary between €3706,00 and €5760,00 (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.

For candidates who demonstrate strong performance and motivation, there may be an opportunity to further develop the research into a PhD trajectory after the initial one-year appointment.

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 dr. Thomay Hoelen at [email protected]. The end date of the publication is November 8, 2026.

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.

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

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.