PhD position in ME/CFS project

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease that currently still lacks a universally accepted cause, diagnosis, or treatment. Through a large ZonMW grant a national consortium (NMCB) has now been created, which aims to identify the biomedical causes(s) of ME/CFS. There is some evidence that ME/CFS has been linked to various (subtle) perturbations in immune cells. Moreover, disturbances in mitochondrial activity in immune cells of ME/CFS patients are observed. In this 4-year ZonMW funded project you will study how cellular metabolism and mitochondria function is affected in monocytes of ME/CFS patient and how this impacts monocyte function, their ability to communicate with the nervous system, and ultimately whether this underlies the cause of ME/CFS. To that end you will be using various in vitro assays, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and imaging to assess mitochondrial function and metabolic fluxes in monocytes and assess how this affects monocyte behavior. In addition, you will help to build a pediatric ME/CFS cohort by writing protocols, setting up clinical data management platform and help with perform several assessments (e.g. pain and fatigue measurements) and process blood.

We are looking for talented and highly motivated PhD with a degree in biomedical sciences. You have excellent experimental skills and preferable have some experience in either mitochondrial assessment, cell culture, flow cytometry and big data-set analysis. Previous experience in and license for working with animals is a plus. Affinity with neuro-immunology is preferred as well as the willingness to engage with patients. You should have good communication skills and organizational talent. Besides this, you as our new colleague should be flexible, versatile, and a good team player.

Your application should include a motivation letter, a CV, and a brief description of past work experience.

The maximum salary for this position (32 - 36 hours) is € 3.677,00 gross per month based on full-time employment.

In addition, we offer an annual benefit of 8.3%, holiday allowance, travel expenses and career opportunities. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Cao University Medical Centers (UMC).

You will work in the laboratory of Dr. Eijkelkamp (neuro-immunology of pain), which is hosted in the in the Center of Translational Immunology (CTI) at the UMC Utrecht. The group of Eijkelkamp is composed of an international team of researchers (~16) that are actively collaborating on projects to better understand chronic pain, ME/CFS and Post-COVID. The CTI is a well-facilitated department with experts in all fields of immunology, and is embedded in the focus area ‘Infection and Immunology’ of the UMC Utrecht. We are structured to facilitate bench-to-bed side research. The CTI, or withing the UMCU/UU, we have a state-of-the-art flow cytometry, imaging, mass spectrometry, and RNA sequencing facilities. Within this project there will be close collaboration with Dr. Nijhof (Pediatrician) expert in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic fatigue in children and adolescents and Dr. Jans (Associated professor) a laboratory specialist clinical genetics specialized in the development and introduction of clinical untargeted metabolomics in diagnostics. Moreover you will be embedded within the NMCB and collaborate with other scientist in this consortium.