PhD Student - Department of Human Structure and Repair

Last application date Jun 02, 2024 00:00

Department GE38 - Department of Human Structure and Repair

Contract Limited duration

Degree Master degree in Bioscience engineering, Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent

Occupancy rate 100%

Vacancy type Research staff

Job description

The current PhD position is available for a highly motivated candidate to work on an EU-funded ERC consolidator grant within the research group of Prof. An Hendrix. The main aim of the PhD project is to address the role of bacterial extracellular vesicles in cancer. In this regard, the PhD student will apply state-of-the-art technologies to analyze the composition of bacterial extracellular vesicles and clinically relevant and transgenic models systems to assess their function.

Extracellular vesicles are membrane-enclosed communicative particles released in body fluids that carry cell-type-specific molecular patterns including nucleic acids and proteins. Knowledge on their origin, fate and function in the human body is required to accelerate therapeutic and diagnostic applications but hampered by a plethora of technological pitfalls (Hendrix, Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 2021). The Hendrix lab created the EV-TRACK knowledgebase and launched the EV-TRACK coaching tool to stimulate transparency and steer reproducibility (Van Deun et al., Nat Methods, 2017). We designed recombinant extracellular vesicles, that are easily trackable and distinguishable from sample extracellular vesicles, to support instrument calibration and data normalization (Geeurickx et al., Nat Commun, 2019; Nat Protoc, 2021). We established reproducible protocols to separate extracellular vesicles from other particles in body fluids (Tulkens et al., Nat Protoc, 2020). This supporting ecosystem has steered the Hendrix lab towards the pioneering discovery of systemic bacterial extracellular vesicles in non-septicemic patients, including cancer patients (Tulkens et al., Gut, 2020).

You will work in very close interaction with partners from Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG, Ghent), Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB, Ghent) as well as (inter)national collaborating teams to enable multidisciplinary investigations.

We offer you:

• We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
• Your contract will start on 10/01/2024 at the earliest. (later start dates are also possible in mutual agreement).
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by the Department of Personnel and Organization based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits (in Dutch).
• Participate in an exciting and rapidly evolving new research area within a multidisciplinary environment in EU-funded labs that operate at international level and are equipped with state-of-the-art technologies.
• Become member of an integrated research platform connecting young, dynamic and enthusiastic researchers with great team spirit.

Job profile

• You hold a Master degree in Bioscience engineering, Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent, completed before the start date of the position, with excellent grades at a recognized university.
• Holding a FELASA B/C degree or equivalent degree accreditation for animal experimentation is a plus.
• You have excellent English communication skills (both oral and written).
• You have a keen interest in immune oncology, microbiology and/or extracellular vesicles.
• You are highly motivated and can plan and conduct research accurately.
• You can function well independently as well as in a team.
• You can take initiative and have a hands-on mentality, perseverance and critical mind.
• You are motivated towards applying for future competitive PhD grants (e.g. FWO).

How to apply

If you are interested, please send the necessary documents to prof. dr. An Hendrix (prof. dr.an.hendrix@ugent.be) by June 02, 2024, 11:59 pm.
Necessary documents (in 1 pdf max 10 Mb):

• CV: your CV and an overview of your study results (merged into one pdf file)
• Cover letter (1 page): your application letter in pdf format
• A copy of your study results
• Support letters and contact details of two references

For more information, please contact prof. dr. An Hendrix by e-mail.

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.