The PhD student will collect materials and data from the animal study, which is performed in Utrecht. He/she will work closely together with a PhD student and a postdoctoral researcher employed in Utrecht. Molecular analysis and epigenetic characterization of the samples will take place in our Experimental Perinatology group in the UMCG. In parallel, human samples will be studied based on results from the animals experiments.

Candidates should have an M.Sc. degree in molecular biology, medical biology, physiology, genetics or a comparable discipline. The candidate should be able to work in a team, in the first phase also temporarily in Utrecht. We prefer candidates with experience in molecular techniques, interest in clinical questions, and willingness to work with mice. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required.

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. The UMCG can provide you with the vaccination, should it be required for your position.
In case of specific professions a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ is required.

You will be appointed as a PhD candidate in the Dutch University job-ranking system (UFO). Duration of the PhD project lasts 3.5 years.

Your salary will be a maximum of €3,103 gross per month (scale PRO), depending on your qualifications and relevant experience, based on a full-time appointment.
In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC). English: http://www.nfu.nl/english/about-the-nfu/

We aim to start the project in November 2019.

More information
For more information about this vacancy please contact:
adj. prof. dr. Torsten Plösch, e-mail: t.plosch@umcg.nl (please do not use for applying)
or check: http://epigenetic-programming.nl

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), located in the center of Groningen, is one of the Netherlands’ eight university medical centers.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands, is looking for a highly motivated PhD student to characterize the long-term consequences of maternal infections for the offspring.

Background
Infections during pregnancy, and the subsequent activation of the maternal immune system, are associated with an increased risk of developing immune disorders in the child. Within our TTW project we aim to characterize the long term consequences of maternal infection for the offspring. Our partner in this project is the Department of Pharmacy, Utrecht University (Dr. Lucianne Groenink). The project will include an in-depth characterization of a mouse model for maternal infection (developed in Utrecht) and epigenetic analyses of samples from human cohorts.