Project description
Short-chain fatty-acids (SCFA) are produced from dietary fibres by intestinal microbiota. Overall, their metabolic actions protect against obesity. Yet, the fate of SCFA and their impact on human fat metabolism are complex and dynamic, with multiple feedback and feedforward regulatory loops. To optimally apply prebiotic (fibre) and probiotic (microbial) supplements, a better understanding of their mode of action is required. Our aim is to construct, infer, and analyse a dynamic, multiscale computational model predicting how dietary fibres and SCFA affect the balance between fat oxidation and storage in humans. The postdoc will develop the model in close collaboration with experimental researchers in the Bakker team. In collaboration with the Wit team he/she will apply innovative model and parameter estimation techniques and analyse the robustness of the SCFA network.

We are searching for an excellent, highly motivated candidate with strong skills in the mathematical aspects of the project and an affinity for the biological aspects. He/she should have a PhD degree in a relevant discipline (mathematics, physics, engineering, etc.). Candidates are expected to communicate efficiently in an interdisciplinary team of academic and private partners, consisting of biochemists, biologists, and computational experts.

The salary will be a maximum of € 4.917,- gross per month (scale 11), depending on your qualifications and relevant experience, based on a full-time appointment. In addition, the UMCG will offer 8% holiday pay, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and a development budget.The terms of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centers (CAO-UMC).

Additional information
For more information, please contact:
Prof. Barbara Bakker, e-mail: b.m.bakker01@umcg.nl, phone: + 31 50 361 1542
Prof. Ernst Wit, e-mail: e.c.wit@rug.nl, phone: +31 50 363 5170
(please do not use e-mail adresses for applications)

Applying for the job
Please use the the digital application form at the bottom of this page - only these will be processed. Applications should include a motivation letter, curriculum vitae, and two contacts for reference. You can apply until November 5, 2017. Immediately after sending the digital application form you will receive an email-confirmation with further information.

The Medical Systems Biology group

Postdoctoral Researcher in Medical Systems Biology: Multiscale modelling of state transitions in the host-microbiome-brain network

The University of Groningen and the University Medical Center Groningen offer an excellent environment for research and training of scientific skills. The Medical Systems Biology group headed by Prof. B.M. Bakker studies dynamics of metabolism and its regulation in the context of metabolic diseases, cancer, and ageing, and collaborates closely with clinician. The group of Prof. E.C. Wit is specialized in Statistics and Probability, particularly in high-dimensional inference of networks. Bakker and Wit are co-founders of the Systems Biology Centre for Energy Metabolism and Ageing (SBS-EMA). SBC-EMA has excellent facilities for multi-omics studies, including quantitative metabolomics and proteomics, as well as for computational modelling of metabolic processes. The postdoc will be embedded in both groups, enabling him/her to develop advanced model inference methods for multiscale modelling of biological networks.