PHD Student

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PhD student | Resolution of Neuro-inflammation

Are you an aspiring researcher? Join our team as a PhD student and contribute to groundbreaking research, making a valuable impact in molecular cell biology and immunology and advancing academic knowledge.

PhD student | Resolution of Neuro-inflammation Questions?

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• Hours: 36 uur per week
• Location: Locatie VUmc
• Contract type: project
• Salary: € 3.017 – € 3.824
• React until: 18 August 2024

The project

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuro-inflammatory disorder, characterized by chronic neuro-inflammation, demyelination and neurodegeneration. Current immune-modulating therapies are quite effective in reducing relapses, but unfortunately they only have a minor effect on disease progression and display various unwanted side-effects (e.g. immunosuppression). Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop alternative approaches that not only interfere with chronic neuro-inflammation, but also boost local tissue recovery (resolution).

The resolution process is orchestrated by bio-active lipid mediators (LMs), which are biosynthesized from omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids by various enzymes like lipoxygenases (LOX), soluble epoxide hydrolases (sEH) and prostaglandin E synthases (mPGES). We recently revealed an imbalance between pro-resolving and pro-inflammatory LM profiles in MS patients, which suggests that the resolution process is dysregulated. Consequently, restoring this balance by targeting such LM biosynthesizing enzymes can therefore be regarded as a novel approach to combat MS, but for that we first need to understand the underlying regulatory mechanisms.

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About your role

You will study inflammation-resolving mechanisms, define lipid mediator signatures in body fluids and brain tissues of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, to ultimately pave the way for MS patient stratification (diagnosis) and design novel resolution-inducing therapies to combat MS. As a PhD student, your main tasks and responsibilities are:

• Integrating metabolomics data to define lipid mediator signatures in human MS tissues and body fluids in all disease stages of MS;
• Unravel the underlying mechanism of action and validate new targets by using human in vitro , ex vivo and in vivo rodent models for MS;
• Using state-of-the-art lipidomics and mass spectrometry imaging techniques and will apply bioinformatics to analyze the data.

About you

• A Master’s degree in a field related to biochemistry, biomedical sciences, neuroscience and/or immunology, bioinformatics;
• Affinity for biochemistry, neuro-immunology, neuroscience and cell biology;
• Interest in high-dimensional technologies and pushing the boundaries of research through technology-driven applications;
• Experience with animal experiments (article 9 qualified), high-dimensional data analysis and biostatistics is a plus;
• Experience with imaging analyses, immunohistochemistry and in vitro models using iPSC technology is a plus;
• A flexible, pro-active team spirit but you can also work independently;
• Excellent communications skills in English, both written and verbal.

Our offer

• A flying start to your career in scientific research.
• Plenty of room for personal development with a wide range of training & development of academic skills
• Working on large-scale and own research, with motivated colleagues.
• A contract for the duration of the training program. We first offer a fixed term contract for 1 year, which under normal circumstances will be prolonged with 3 years for a total duration of 4 years.
  • The intended start date for the project is October 1st 2024 .
• Placement in salary scale OIO: € 3.017 (1st year) to € 3.824 (4th year) gross based on a full-time employment. Additionally, you will receive, among other things, an 8.3% year-end bonus and 8% holiday allowance. Calculate your net salary here .
• Vacation hours: 186,4 per year and an option to save additional hours.
• Your pension is accrued at BeFrank. A modern, understandeble en fair pension
• Excellent accessibility with public transportation and reimbursement of a large portion of your travel expenses. Additionally, we have plenty of parking spaces at the AMC location and a good bicycle scheme.

Recent publications

For background information, you can find some recent relevant publications on PubMed. Check out the following articles: 24899309 , 31780628 , 37290971 , 34077725 .

Amsterdam UMC has an open culture. This means that we hope that everyone feels welcome in our organization and that we strive to offer equal opportunities to everyone. We therefore cordially invite all interested parties to respond to this vacancy. Check out our approach to diversity and inclusion .

What to expect

A job in our beautiful capital city

Working for the favorite employer in healthcare (intermediary 2021)

All colleagues have the same goal: contributing to tomorrow’s care

There is room for development, deepening and broadening of your knowledge

An active staff association that organizes fun activities and arranges discounts on products and services for you

Amsterdam UMC innovates continuously, which requires a flexible attitude from everyone

Two large locations, good for your pedometer!

You have more than 19.000 colleagues, not all of whom you will get to know personally

Meet your colleagues Watch video’s of your future colleagues

Nice to meet you

Tullip

Amsterdam UMC

Let’s meet!

During the publication period, applications will be handled continuously. If the vacancy is filled, it will be closed prematurely. Note: only motivation letters written in English will be evaluated.

Note that a Hepatitis B vaccination is mandatory and will be provided by Amsterdam UMC.

If you have any questions about this position, please feel free to contact via .

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Rhiannon Sandfort , Recruitment advisor, via .