Post-doc: Role of the microbiome in infectious disease and vaccination | RIVM

Purpose of the function

Your focus will be on the role of the microbiome in susceptibility to infectious diseases (especially in at risk populations such as the ageing population) and in the immune response mounted to infections and vaccines.

You will join several ongoing projects:

• Study of the microbiome as a predictor of immune response to vaccination and infection in humans.
• Study of the “healthy” human microbiome in large datasets in combination with multiple immune and host associated variables.
• Study the impact of an influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection on the microbiome in the ferret model and the role in vaccine response to influenza.
• Translation of microbiome research in animal models for infectious disease and vaccination to humans.

Main responsibilities

In this role you will analyze already available data from different human and ferret (vaccine) studies. You will report the results in the form of scientific publication(s). You will also support R packages/material developed in the group. Working together with and providing support to the team is an important part of this position. This close-knit team includes PhD students, research assistants and the project leader. You will also collaborate with other data scientists and related projects within the Immunology of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines center.

Unique to this job

We are an international, dynamic, highly motivated team of scientists at different stages of our careers with a strong drive to push microbiome research for the benefit of Public Health. We combine expertise in microbial ecology, virology, immunology and bioinformatics and believe in the strength of collaboration and working together as a team. Our laboratory philosophy aligns with that described by Maestre, F. T. in “Ten simple rules towards healthier research labs” (PLoS Comput. Biol. 15, e1006914, 2019).

You have an enthusiastic motivation for a postdoc position in translational public health research, with interest in infectious diseases and vaccination. You are a team player, with respectful attitude towards colleagues and collaborators. You are able to work independently quickly, while maintaining close relationships with your colleagues. You showcase originality and creativity in scientific questions, presentation and publication.

Furthermore you have:

• A PhD in microbiology or computational biology (background in microbiome research and immunology).
• A strong background on data science, with an analytical mind-set and independent work attitude, and ample experience in data-analysis with R and Python.
• Excellent skills in English (speech and writing)

Competences:

• Result-oriented
• Analytical mind-set
• Team player
• Creative
• Organized

• Salarisniveau: schaal 10
• Maandsalaris: Min €2.957 – Max. €4.707 (bruto)
• Dienstverband: Arbeidsovereenkomst voor bepaalde tijd
• Contractduur: 24 maanden
• Minimaal aantal uren per week: 32
• Maximaal aantal uren per week: 36

Overige arbeidsvoorwaarden

In addition to the salary, you will receive an Individual Choice Budget (IKB). The IKB consists of money (16.37% of your gross annual salary) and time. With the IKB you make the choices that suit you and you can put together part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, you can choose to have part of your monthly income paid out whenever you wish. You can also convert this budget into leave and vice versa or spend it on tax-friendly goals. The central government is keen to promote personal growth and career development and offers plenty of opportunities to do so. The fringe benefits include various study facilities, company fitness, full reimbursement of your public transport commuting expenses and partially paid parental leave.

The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) protects and promotes public health and consumer safety, and we help to protect the quality of the environment. We’ve done so for more than a hundred years and RIVM has become a knowledge institute that is at the heart of society. RIVM carries out independent research and provides the government with trusted policy advice regarding health and the environment. We deal with issues concerning infectious diseases, vaccinations, population studies, lifestyle, nutrition, drugs, the environment, sustainability and safety. We do this through research, advice, direction or implementation. RIVM annually produces and publishes numerous reports.

The center for Immunology of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines (IIV) at RIVM is the knowledge center of the government in the field of immunology of infectious diseases and vaccines. The core mission of this center is to provide information and advice about effectiveness of vaccines, vaccination strategies and immune responses against infectious diseases to parties within the government and to the general public. In support of this task, research performed at IIV is focused on optimization of the effectiveness and safety of current and future vaccination programs, immunosurveillance, age-related efficacy of the immune responses and correlates of protection. In this work the center collaborates intensively with other RIVM knowledge centers and national and international collaborators specializing in immunology, microbiology, epidemiology and outbreak control of infectious diseases.