The Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP) of the Faculty of Science and Engineering has a position for a PhD candidate in the department of molecular pharmacology. The project is funded by a collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating progressive lung disease, characterized by fibrogenesis that is not reversible, and deteriorates progressively. The key problem underlying IPF is abnormal tissue repair in vulnerable individuals. Current therapies slow down the progression of the disease to some extent, but do not modify the course of the disease. Accordingly, developing new therapeutic strategies is necessary. The major hurdle in the development of new therapies is the immense lack of knowledge on the mechanisms that impair adequate tissue repair in IPF. We hypothesize that the diseased local tissue microenvironment is the primary driver of impaired tissue repair in IPF by skewing endogenous WNT pathway activation from protective, reparative functions towards detrimental fibrotic functions. It should be feasible to reactivate lung repair by pharmacologically targeting this WNT pathway switch.

The PhD candidate will work with advanced disease models for lung fibrosis including cell culture, lung organoids and precision-cut lung slices to study the role of the WNT pathway in lung fibrosis in more detail. For the project you will be working closely with researchers from Boehringer Ingelheim and spend part of your research project working within the research premises of Boehringer Ingelheim in Biberach an der Riß, Germany.

The prospective starting date will be between May 1st, 2024 and August 1st, 2024.

Organization
Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen enjoys an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative institution of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Flexible study programs and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. As one of the best research universities in Europe, the University of Groningen has joined forces with other top universities and networks worldwide to become a truly global centre of knowledge.

The successful PhD candidate will have the following qualifications:

- a masters' degree in Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related area
- affinity with advanced techniques in cell biology and organoid technology
- previous experience on in vitro cell culture, molecular and cell biology, cellular imaging would be considered an asset
- excellent knowledge of written and spoken English
- enthusiasm for pharmaceutical research in an interdisciplinary setting.

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- a salary of € 2,770 gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 3,539 gross per month in the fourth and final year, based on a full-time position (1.0 fte). In addition, there is an 8% holiday allowance and a 8.3% end-of-the-year bonus. The position is limited to a period of 4 years. The first year constitutes a probationary period, with an evaluation of the candidate’s performance after 9 months. The objective of this evaluation is to establish whether the candidate will be able to finish a PhD thesis in the remaining three years. If the performance evaluation is positive, the candidate’s contract will be extended by another 3 years, for a total of 4 years.