About your role
As a PhD candidate, you investigate mechanisms underlying nec and sepsis in preterm infants. You work with clinical samples and advanced in vitro models to translate fundamental insights into improved prevention strategies.
Your tasks include:
- Designing and performing experiments in intestinal organoid and cell culture models;
- Conducting (an)aerobic microbial culture experiments;
- Assessing epithelial barrier function using teer and translocation assays;
- Analysing gene and protein expression using qPCR, RNA sequencing and immunoassays;
- Interpreting data and presenting results in team meetings and scientific publications.
You actively collaborate with clinicians, microbiologists and bioinformaticians and contribute to conferences and consortium meetings.
About youYou are driven to improve neonatal health through fundamental and translational research. You enjoy working in a multidisciplinary environment and take ownership of your project.
You have:
- A master’s degree (or equivalent) in biomedical sciences, molecular biology, medicine or a related field; applicants in the final stage of their degree are welcome to apply;
- A strong background in cell biology, molecular biology, microbiology and/or immunology;
- The ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team;
- Strong analytical skills and a proactive research attitude;
- Excellent English communication skills, written and spoken.
Technical skills
- intestinal organoid models and mammalian cell culture (2D/3D systems, e.g. Caco-2, HT29, THP1);
- (an)aerobic microbial culture techniques;
- barrier integrity analysis, including TEER and translocation assays;
- RNA isolation, qPCR and gene expression analysis;
- ELISA and immunofluorescent staining;
- protein detection and quantification techniques;
- RNA sequencing and metagenomic sequencing;
- targeted metabolomics and HPLC;
- flow cytometry (FACS);
- data analysis using R and/or Python.
Our offer- A flying start to your career in scientific research.
- Plenty of room for your drive to shape tomorrow's healthcare.
- Working on large-scale and in-house research, with motivated colleagues from all over the world.
- You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
- A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of 4 years. The Guideline PhD contract applies to this vacancy.
- Salary scale OIO: € 3.108 to € 3.939 gross based on full-time employment (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. Calculate your net salary here.
- Holiday hours: 190.4 per year for fulltime and a possibility to save additional hours.
- Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.
- For >7 km each way, 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs and, for private transport, €0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km each way.
- Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme. Moreover, you will receive a reimbursement of €0.18 per km.
Watch this video with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
