A combination of biochemistry (e.g. recombinant protein production/purification and in vitro activity assays), proteomics (e.g. LC-MS/MS, TAILS) and molecular bacteriology (e.g. cloning, gene knockout) techniques will be applied. For this purpose, you will work both at the Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics and at the Department of Medical Microbiology of the LUMC. For several parts of the project, collaborations with international research teams have been established. The results from this project will give novel insights into the role of PPEPs and their substrates in the Clostridioides difficile life cycle and provide prospects for novel therapeutic intervention strategies.

Summary of the required skills

·        You have a background in the life sciences (biochemistry, biomedical sciences or similar)

·        You have experience with protein chemistry and/or molecular biology and, preferably, also with mass spectrometry

·        You will collaborate multidisciplinary

The PhD-student we are looking for has a master’s degree in the life sciences (e.g. Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences). You are highly motivated to pursue a scientific career. You have prior skills with biochemistry/proteomics and/or molecular biology. Furthermore, you are flexible and have demonstrable ability to function in a team, as well as in between teams, and you possess solid communication skills in both spoken and written English.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

You will be employed on the basis of a 36-hour week. Appointment is for a maximum of four years, to be completed with a doctoral thesis. Your salary is € 2,422 gross per month in the first year, amounting to € 3,103 in the fourth year (scale PhD students, CLA UMC).

LUMC

In het Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum werken we continu aan het verbeteren van de patiëntenzorg. Wij investeren in baanbrekend, internationaal onderzoek en werken met de nieuwste apparatuur. Samen met onze artsen, gespecialiseerde zorgverleners, docenten, wetenschappelijke onderzoekers en ons ondersteunend personeel streven wij naar de hoogste kwaliteit op het gebied van gezondheidszorg, onderwijs en internationaal onderzoek. En hier hebben wij jou bij nodig!

Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics (CPM)

The Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics (CPM) forms the main expertise center and technology focus area for (clinical) proteomics and metabolomics in the LUMC. You will collaborate extensively with the Department of Medical Microbiology, which includes the section Experimental Bacteriology, a well-known group in the C. difficile field. You will be given the opportunity to work with state of the art equipment in a highly innovative, collaborative and academic environment.