As a PhD student in the Department of Medical Microbiology, you will work within the Clostridium difficile research group with a focus on the significance of the microbiota of the intestinal tract of humans and animals.  A combination of genetic, molecular biological, biochemical, and cell biological techniques will be used to study the microbiota and to define the role of the individual microorganisms.  Since most of the sequence analysis use bioinformatics tools, you will also be embedded at the LUMC Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics. Your work will be linked to that of researchers, both national and international, who participate in the National Centre for One Health (NCOH). This should create ample opportunities for synergy and collaborative research.

You hold a Master’s degree in Biomedical Science, Bioinformatics, Biology or similar field, and have a demonstrable affinity for microbiology, bioinformatics, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry or a related field. Practical experience with DNA techniques and experience with microbiota research are advantageous. You should have knowledge and practical laboratory experience in genetics, bioinformatics tools, molecular biology, and biochemistry. In addition, you are ambitious with an affinity for microbiota  research and highly motivated to focus in-depth on scientific research questions. An ability to work independently and in a diverse team is essential. You should also be able to communicate well with colleagues and be comfortable in collaborating or competing with research groups worldwide working on the same or related topics. You are capable to develop and apply new techniques and are happy to present your work in written and spoken form. The position is available immediately and the start of the project is planned before the end of this year.  

Fixed-term contract: maximum of four years, to be completed with a doctoral thesis.

You will be employed on the basis of a 36-hour work week. Appointment is for a maximum of four years, to be completed with a doctoral thesis. Your salary will be € 2,266 gross per month in the first year, progressing to € 2,903 gross per month in the fourth year based on a full time position (scale PhD students of the Collective Labor Agreement for University Hospitals).

 The terms of employment offered by the LUMC are highly favorable. For example, you will receive an 8% holiday remuneration, a year-end bonus, a pension arrangement with the National Civil Pension Fund and you may join our collective health insurance policy.

 Moreover, the LUMC offers excellent facilities in the area of education, child-care center, and career advice.

Medical Microbiology

This project aims to understand the mechanisms of microbiota-mediated defense against various infectious diseases and other diseases  in which the microbiota plays an important role. Projects have been started to study the microbiota in children with hematological diseases and patients with recurrent intestinal infections. New projects are planned with patients participating in clinical trials to treat neurological diseases, kidney diseases, psychiatric diseases and  metabolic syndromes. The long-term goal is to identify bacteria, viruses, protozoa and metabolites that affect the composition of  the human microbiota and subsequently can be tested in tissue, animal or human intervention models. Metagenomic profiling of the intestinal microbiota will be performed in close collaboration with biostatisticians, bioinformaticians, molecular biologists and microbiologists.