Research at the Division Clinical Infectiology (KLIF) focuses on emergence of antimicrobial resistance posing a threat for veterinary and public health. One of the research topics is the effect of residual antimicrobials. In livestock there is continuous exposure to residual concentrations of antimicrobials after the treatment course has been finalized due to grooming and coprophagy. This continuous exposure is an important factor in the selection for resistance. In this study you
will investigate if the persistence of antimicrobials in the environment of the animals selects for resistant bacteria and if the stability of the antimicrobial should be taken into account for antimicrobial use policies.
As a PhD candidate, you will be working on the NCOH “Complex Systems” financed project “Antimicrobial resistance in relation to the persistence of antimicrobial residues after treatment of farm animal: input for risk management (RESRISK)”. Using classical laboratory techniques, metagenomics and state of the art bioinformatics on samples from both lab and field studies you will determine the selective effects of residual concentrations of various antimicrobials on the selection for resistance in both indicator organisms and in the metagenome in the farm environment. You will use this information to extrapolate this to commercial broiler production to inform policy.

This project is a collaboration with different labs at Wageningen University and Utrecht University and there will be opportunities to work at the labs of the partners. KLIF offers an international and stimulating work environment at the forefront of scientific research. As a PhD candidate, you will actively participate in the Infection and Immunity PhD programme and scientific meetings and will publish the findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals. These papers will form the basis of the PhD thesis of the candidate.

We are looking for a candidate with:

• an academic degree in Life Sciences or Veterinary Sciences/Medicine;
• affinity with microbiology and skills in molecular microbiology with a particular interest in bioinformatics;
• the capability to link different disciplines (wet lab, modelling, translating lab work into practice);
• good social and communicative skills;
• good command of English (oral and written);
• motivation to collaborate (internationally) with scientists in academia, research institutes and industry.

This is an appointment of 1.0 FTE for the duration of four years. The gross salary starts with €2,325 per month in the first year and increases to €2,972 per month in the third year of employment (scale P according to the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities) for a full-time employment.
Besides that, you will receive a holiday allowance of 8 % and a year-end bonus of 8.3 %. Utrecht University also has an appealing package of terms of employment, including the choice for a good balance between work and private (a good arrangement for leave, among other things), possibilities for development and an excellent pension scheme. More information on working at Utrecht University can be found here.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has a unique position in the Netherlands. Not only is this the only institution where veterinarians are trained, researchers are also working together on innovative scientific research. In addition, the Faculty provides specialist clinical care in the largest academic veterinary hospital in Europe. Thanks to this position, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is a point of contact for all veterinary matters, both nationally and increasingly internationally. The Faculty employs approximately 900 veterinarians, scientists and support staff and counts 1.500 students.

The Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology is renowned for its expertise in the field of clinical veterinary infectiology, immunology, infection biology, virology, molecular resistance and tick diseases. The Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology is divided into two divisions: the Division of Clinical Infectiology and the Division of Molecular Infectiology. The Division of Clinical Infectiology is charged with teaching and conducting applied research in the fields of clinical virology, clinical parasitology and clinical bacteriology. The Division also trains specialists in Veterinary Microbiology. To conduct its core activities, the division has a laboratory for clinical microbiological diagnostics. The Division of Molecular Infectiology is divided into specialist disciplines. This Department is charged with teaching and conducting applied research in the fields of biology and the prevention of infectious diseases and diseases of the immune system.