Toxicology is the discipline that examines the toxic potency of chemicals (or other agents, like nanoparticles). This is often done by performing toxicity studies in vivo, but in vitro experiments are increasingly being used. The results from toxicological studies are the basis of (human or ecological) risk assessment, an interdisciplinary activity that aims to prevent humans or ecosystems being exposed to chemicals at levels that may result in health effects. RIVM plays an important role in advising both national and international authorities and organizations on risk assessment issues and has a renowned reputation in the risk assessment community worldwide. 

One of your main tasks in the context of risk assessment of chemicals is the analysis of dose-response data from toxicity studies in vivo (laboratory animals) or in vitro (cells, tissues, organs). The main method of analysis is the so-called Benchmark (BMD) dose approach, where non-linear regression models are fit to the data. RIVM developed an R package (PROAST) which can fit a wide range of models to all sorts of dose-response data that may occur in practice (e.g. continuous, binary, or categorical response data). The PROAST package is used by numerous experts worldwide, and also the standard BMD software in organizations like EFSA.

You will help maintain the PROAST software, which includes implementing new developments in the BMD approach, based on new insights from research. Such new insights may arise from analyzing large collections of available dose-response data from the past, addressing generic questions like “In what sense do dose-response shapes differ among species, or among toxicological endpoints?”, or, “Is carcinogenic potency correlated to mutagenic potency of chemicals?” Apart from doing such research, you will contribute in an international group that aims to build a database with historical dose-response data that allows for queries needed to select the suitable data as dictated by the research question (as exemplified above). In a related research area, you will examine the performance of different study designs by computer simulation studies. These results may be used as a basis for developing an OECD guidance document on study designs in the field of toxicology, in the context of an international OECD project led by RIVM.  You will advise toxicologists and risk assessors, both from RIVM and from EFSA and other organizations worldwide, in using PROAST and all the statistical issues related to the analysis of dose-response data.  Depending on the needs, you may also be involved in probabilistic risk assessment or mathematical modeling of toxicokinetic processes.

In the first few years you will be tutored by Dr. Wout Slob, the developer of the PROAST software, and a leading expert in dose-response modeling and other risk assessment models (e.g. probabilistic risk assessment, exposure modeling).

• You have an academic degree (a PhD is highly desired) in the exact sciences (e.g. applied physics/mathematics or statistics) and are interested in the life sciences or have an academic degree in one of the life sciences with a PhD in (applied) statistics or mathematics. Additional education in toxicology or related disciplines is favorable.
• You are proficient in English and at least have a basic knowledge of the Dutch language and are willing to further improve this if necessary.
• You have good didactic skills and are able (possibly after some training) to explain technical (statistical) issues to non-mathematicians.
• You are a critical and independent thinker, and willing to question assumptions, even when they are accepted by the vast majority of the community involved.
• You have experience in programming and are interested in improving and extending the code of (large) software programs like PROAST, including its implementation in a web application.
• You have knowledge of or experience with developing databases, or at least have a strong interest in that.
• You are able to define new research questions that are worth investigating, and to report the results, both written and oral.

• Salary scale: 12
• Monthly salary: Min €3.667 – Max. €5.450 (bruto)
• Contract­: 1 year with prospects or permanent employment
• Min. per week: 32
• Max. per week: 36

In addition to the salary and ‘holiday allowance’, you can count on an end-of-year bonus, the so-called 13th month salary. The Dutch national government is strongly committed to personal growth and career development and offers many opportunities for this. The secondary employment conditions include a maximum of 55% paid parental leave (under conditions), study facilities, an extra leave arrangement for the elderly and a commuting allowance. Moreover, you have a number of individual choices when compiling your terms of employment package.

National Institute for Public Health and the Environment

RIVM promotes public health and consumer safety, and we help to protect the quality of the environment. We collect and collate knowledge and information from various sources, both national and international. We apply this knowledge, and we place it at the disposal of policy-makers, researchers, regulatory authorities and the general public. Each year, RIVM produces numerous reports on all aspects of public health, nutrition and diet, health care, disaster management, nature and the environment.

Centre Nutrition, Prevention and Care (VPZ)

The Centre Nutrition, Prevention and Care (VPZ) within RIVM performs research and develops knowledge in the field of nutrition, prevention and care. The Centre VPZ aims to enhance public health by signaling the development of important health problems, by developing possibilities to prevent such problems, and by innovations in health care. Thus, the Centre contributes to national and international public health policy. The Centre comprises four departments, one of which is Food Safety.

The department of Food Safety has about 25 collaborators. Its tasks are risk assessment, problem signaling, and advising risk managers on substances in food, feed, and drinking water. Focus is on substances that may pose a health risk to humans or animals, such as residues of pesticides or veterinary drugs, environmental contaminants, substances in packaging materials, herbs and supplements. Much of the work has an international character, and includes participation in expert working groups within EU institutions, or in panels of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Furthermore, we participate in global expert groups of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a UN forum (FAO and WHO) that develops international standards for substances in food.