Overview of our latest and upcoming PhD defences
March 2026
David Diouf | March 5, 2026 | 13 hrs.
Double Doctoral Degree Maastricht University - University of Würzburg
Balancing the brain: precision gene editing in scalable cultures of human stem cell-derived neural circuits. The case for st3gal3.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. D. van den Hove (Maastricht University); Prof. Dr. K.P. Lesch, Wuerzburg University (Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Co-Supervisor: Dr. T. Vanmierlo (Maastricht University)
Sara Pauwels | March 16, 2026 | 13 hrs.
Double Doctoral Degree Maastricht University - Hasselt University
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: In older adults: impact and treatment efficacy on frailty, postural control and physical activity.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. R. van de Berg, Maastricht University/ MUMC+; Dr. J. Spildooren, Hasselt University; Prof. Dr. K. Meijer, Maastricht University.
Co-Supervisor: Dr. P. Meyns, Hasselt University
Noa van der Knaap | March 27, 2026 | 13 hrs.
Resonating critical illness: an Integrated multimodal mri and biomarker perspective on brain health after severe covid-19.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. J. Jansen, Maastricht University / MUMC+ / Eindhoven University of Technology
Co-Supervisors: Dr. I.van der Horst, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis / Maastricht University; Dr. M.Ariës, Maastricht University / MUMC+
February 2026
Anita Marissa Vinke | February 11, 2026 | 13 hrs.
Autoantibodies and neurology; exploring the horizon.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. R. van Oostenbrugge, Maastricht University;
Prof. Dr. M. Martinez, Maastricht University.
Co-Supervisor: Dr. R. Rouhl. (Maastricht University)
Meichan Zhu | February 12, 2026 | 16 hrs.
Balance and walking in bilateral vestibulopathy.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Raymond van de Berg, Maastricht University / MUMC+; Prof. dr. K. Meijer, Maastricht University.
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Chris McCrum, Maastricht University.
Ceylan Ergül Arslan | February 13, 2026 | 10 hrs.
Exploring Two-way Transitions within the Extended Psychosis Phenotype – Environmental and Comorbid Aspects
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. J van Os, UMC Utrecht
Co-Supervisors: Dr. M. Drukker, Maastricht University; Dr. T. Binbay, Dokuz Eylül University.
Mustafa Karabulut | February 27, 2026 | 16 hrs.
Chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction: From Symptoms to a Patient-Oriented Measure
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. R. van de Berg, Maastricht University
Co-Supervisors: Dr. W. Viechtbauer, Maastricht University; Em. Prof. Dr. H. Kingma, Maastricht University.
January 2026
Dina Mirghni Mahjoob | January 8, 2026 | 13 hrs.
Mind, body, and pelvic floor: Investigating the interplay between Psychosocial health and pelvic floor symptoms.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. G. van Koeveringe (Maastricht University / MUMC+); Prof. Dr. M. Blanker (University of Groningen / UMCG).
Co-Supervisors: Dr. G. Knol-de Vries (University of Groningen / UMCG); Dr. D. Vrijens (MUMC+).
Raquel van Gool | January 12, 2026 | 10 hrs.
From Cells to Circuits: Transdiagnostic Mechanisms of Dysfunction in Pompe Disease and Niemann-Pick Disease Type C.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. D. Linden (Maastricht University); Prof. Dr. C. Faber, (MUMC+ / Maastricht University).
Co-Supervisor: Dr. J. Upadhyay (Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School).
Myrthe van Schothorst | January 14, 2026 | 13 hrs.
From Evidence to Everyday Care Implementing and Evaluating a Lifestyle-Focused Approach in Mental Healthcare.
Supervisors: Em. prof. dr. P.N. van Harten (GGz Centraal / Maastricht University); Em. prof. dr. N. de Vries † (Maastricht University).
Co-Supervisor: Dr. J. Deenik (GGz Centraal / Maastricht University).
Antoni Vallbona Garcia | January 15, 2026 | 16 hrs.
Exploring Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Glaucoma Using Blood Biomarkers.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. C. Webers (Maastricht University/ MUMC+); Prof. Dr. H. Smeets (Maastricht University).
Co-Supervisor: Dr. T. Gorgels (Maastricht University /MUMC+)