In this PhD or postdoc position you will join an ERC Starting Grant: FLAVIR. In this project you will use the state-of-the-art in structural proteomics to study the immune response to flavivirus infection. Flaviviruses are an enormous burden on global public health and have been spreading into new territories. Vaccines and treatments against currently circulating flaviviruses have limited efficacy and new species are emerging in animal and human populations. Using mass spectrometry and electron microscopy you will monitor the antibody response directed against dengue virus, zika virus, and related pathogens. You will work as a team to apply new protein design and engineering methods for antigen presentation that will be used to study the immune response and inspire new vaccine designs.

The positions are fully funded and postdocs will get support for additional fellowship applications to launch their independent careers in line with the research interests of the group.

Do you bring enthusiasm, teamwork and are you excited to operate in an international collaborative environment? This position might fit you well!

You will need to bring the following:

• A background (MSc or PhD) in any of the following fields: virology, immunology, structural biology, biochemistry, mass spectrometry.
• We highly value expertise in glycoprotein expression and purification (mammalian systems).
• Prior experience with mass spec or electron microscopy is a plus, but not required.

• PhD position for 4 years or a Postdoc position 1 year with possible extension to 3 years.
• A full-time gross salary as PhD ranging from €2,541 to €3,247 in scale P or as Postdoc ranging from €2,960 to €4,670 in scale 10;
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• A pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.

In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, professional development, (partly paid) parental leave, sports and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment through the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we encourage you to grow.

For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

Sharing science, shaping tomorrow. 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 strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability. You can watch the Utrecht University Campus Tour to get an impression of our university.

At the Faculty of Science, there are 6 departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Physics. Each of these is made up of distinct institutes that work together to focus on answering some of humanity’s most pressing problems. More fundamental still are the individual research groups – the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects. We aim to embed good equality and diversity practices in all our activities so that we can provide an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place to work and study. Find out more about us by watching Working at the Faculty of Science.

The Snijder lab uses structural proteomics to understand virus-host interactions, with a special focus on antibody-mediated immunity. The group is embedded in the section Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics (chair: Albert J.R. Heck), which is part of the Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research of the Chemistry Department at UU. We offer state-of-the-art research infrastructure for mass spectrometry and electron microscopy. Utrecht is home to a vibrant research community in virology and immunology.