PhD Position: Fatigue in Motion

Karlstad University; Nijmegen; On-site; EUR 38,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Year-end bonus

Extra leave days

Job summary

Radboud University in Nijmegen invites applications for a PhD project focused on fatigue and mobility in neurological populations. You will design protocols, perform both laboratory and real‑world measurements, and analyse data to link physiological markers with daily movement.

Collaboration with medical centers and industry partners strengthens translational impact. The PhD is embedded in a large consortium and offers a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment with opportunities for mentoring and

Qualifications

• MSc degree required in one of the specified fields and interest in clinical research.
• Experience with movement analysis, physiological measurements, or qualitative research methods.
• Strong analytical, organizational and communication skills in Dutch and English.

Responsibilities

• Design study protocols for fatigue–related mobility research.
• Conduct laboratory and real‑world measurements.
• Analyse quantitative and qualitative data and disseminate findings.
• Collaborate with clinicians, researchers and industry partners.
• Mentor BSc and MSc students and assist with teaching duties.

Skills

Movement analysis

Physiological measurements

Qualitative research

Dutch/English communication

Education

MSc in Human Movement Sciences

MSc in Neuroscience

MSc in Biomedical Engineering

MSc in Technical Medicine

MSc in Biomedical Sciences

MSc in Medicine

Tools

Plethysmography

Wearable sensors

Motion analysis software

Job description

Radboud University is a denominational university originally established in 1923 as the Catholic University of Nijmegen.

Required background Research University Degree

Organizational unit Faculty of Social Sciences

Fatigue profoundly impacts mobility and quality of life in people with neurological disorders, yet its effects on everyday movement remain poorly understood. In this PhD project, you will combine cutting‑edge physiological measurements, motion analysis and wearable technology to uncover how fatigue shapes mobility in daily life.

This PhD project investigates how fatigue affects gait, balance and functional mobility in individuals with neurological disorders. A key component of the project is the use of plethysmography to assess physiological responses associated with physical and cognitive fatigue, combined with advanced motion analysis in the laboratory and wearable sensors in daily life. By linking physiological markers of fatigue to movement quality and real‑world activity, you will gain new insights into why mobility deteriorates during daily activities and how fatigue limits participation.

This project is embedded within the NWO‑TTW funded Care is Coming Home programme. This large multidisciplinary consortium brings together academic medical centres, universities, healthcare organisations and industry partners to develop and implement innovative technologies for home‑based healthcare and rehabilitation. The PhD project Fatigue in Motion is conducted in close collaboration with Sint Maartenskliniek, a leading specialist hospital in posture, gait and movement disorders, and Kinetic Analysis, an expert partner in advanced movement measurement and analysis.

As a PhD candidate, you will play a central role in the design and execution of this research project. Your responsibilities will include developing study protocols, conducting laboratory and real‑world measurements, analysing quantitative and qualitative data, and disseminating findings through scientific publications and conference presentations. You will collaborate closely with clinicians, researchers and industry partners across the consortium to advance the assessment and understanding of fatigue‑related mobility limitations in neurological populations.

Additional responsibilities may include mentoring BSc and MSc students and taking on limited teaching duties.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.

Does this sound like you?

• You hold an MSc degree in Human Movement Sciences, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Technical Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, or a related field, and have a strong interest in clinical research.
• You have experience with movement analysis, physiological measurements, and/or qualitative research methods, combined with excellent analytical, organisational and communication skills in both Dutch and English.
• You are proactive and persistent, and enjoy working at the interface of neuroscience, technology, rehabilitation and clinical practice.

What we offer you

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €3,204 gross per month based on a 38‑hour working week, which will increase to €4,051 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end‑of‑year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full‑time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. You can make arrangements for the best possible work‑life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Where you will be working

You will be embedded in the Sensorimotor Neuroscience department of the Donders Centre for Cognition (DCC), part of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and one of the six centres of the interfaculty Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour houses more than 800 researchers devoted to understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of the human mind. Research at the Donders Institute is focused around four themes:

• Language and communication.
• Perception, action and decision making.
• Development and lifelong plasticity.
• Neural computation and neurotechnology.

Excellent, state-of-the-art research facilities are available for the broad range of neuroscience research that is being conducted at the Donders Institute. The Donders Institute fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary and supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute.

Faculty of Social Sciences
At the Faculty of Social Sciences , humanity and society are our focus; we study how people behave, think and feel. Within this context, we look at themes such as human behaviour and the human psyche, education and upbringing, communication, society and culture. The faculty provides education to 6,000 students and employs 700 staff. Education is organised into six programme clusters: Psychology; Artificial Intelligence; Pedagogical Sciences and Educational Sciences; Communication Science; Sociology; and Cultural Anthropology and Developmental Sociology, and the Radboud Centre Social Sciences as an institute for post‑master education have been merged into the Social Sciences Education Institute. Our research is carried out within three research institutes: the Donders Centre for Cognition, the Behavioural Science Institute, and Radboud Social Cultural Research.

Radboud University
At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high‑quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. If you want to learn more about working at Radboud University, follow our Instagram account and read stories from our colleagues.

Is this the job for you?

We would like to recruit our new colleague ourselves. Acquisition in response to this vacancy will not be appreciated.