PhD Scholarship at University of Groningen / Campus Fryslân and University Medical Centre Groningen (UCMG)

The University of Groningen offers a four-year PhD student scholarship opportunity to complete a dissertation on a topic related to Exposome and epigenetics in the Lifelines cohort study. Lifelines is a large, multi-generational, prospective cohort study that includes over 167,000 participants (10%) from the northern population of the Netherlands. Through data collected via questionnaires, biological samples, and in-depth examination it provides an excellent opportunity for the study of the etiology of different diseases focusing on multifactorial environmental risk factors (https://www.lifelines.nl/). The PhD candidate will be supervised by Prof. Andrej Zwitter and Dr Valentina Gallo (University of Groningen, Campus Fryslân) and Prof. Marike Boezen (University Medical Centre Groningen). Prospective candidates are invited to write a project proposal describing a molecular epidemiological prospective study investigating exposome and epigenetics in Lifelines, possibly in relation to respiratory and neurological diseases, or some intermediate phenotype, e.g. the lung-brain axis. Of particular interest will be projects incorporating also the exposure to pesticides in the exposome. Some basic information on the Lifeline study design, and potential data availability is to be found on the website. Interdisciplinary proposals that show contextualization of results into the broader environmental context under the umbrella name of Planetary health are very welcome.

The student will be a member of the “Sustainable Health” team at Campus Fryslân led by Dr Valentina Gallo, which is comprised of several PhD students, assistant professors, and interdisciplinary staff.

The PhD candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School Campus Fryslân (GSCF) and can benefit from affiliations at other faculties at the University of Groningen (Aletta Jacob School of Public Health) and at the University Medical Centre Groningen (UCMG). If interested, the PhD candidate could also have a role to play in the new Master’s program in Sustainable Health, currently under development.

The candidate should have the following qualifications:

• Master’s degree in epidemiology, biostatistics or similar
• very good record of undergraduate and graduate studies
• research experience is an asset
• some experience of data management and analysis
• willingness to engage with an interdisciplinary academic group
• highly developed conceptual capacity and analytical skills
• very good command of spoken and written English
• very good individual and collaborative working skills
• presentation skills
• planning and organizing skills
• strong motivation to complete a PhD dissertation in four years.

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

The PhD Scholarship student will be enrolled in the PhD Scholarship Programme and receives a scholarship of € 2,249 per month (gross) from the University of Groningen. For more information on the RUG PhD scholarship programme and its benefits please check the website at https://www.rug.nl/education/phd-programmes/phd-scholarship-programme/conditions-application/

The PhD Scholarship contract is offered for four years. Prolongation of the contract after year 1 is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the contract period is to be expected.

A PhD training programme is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of the Faculty. As part of the programme, the PhD student will take part in the Career Perspectives Series, which provides a thorough preparation on the career after the PhD, inside or outside academia. During the course of the doctorate, the student will develop research and teaching competencies as well as leadership skills. For this, the PhD students will receive a tailor-made programme from the GSCF.

The intended starting date is 1 February 2022. An earlier start is possible by mutual consent.

Campus Fryslân

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 programmes and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 36,000 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.

Campus Fryslân is the ambitious eleventh and newest faculty of the University of Groningen, located in Leeuwarden. Campus Fryslân is an interdisciplinary faculty that works closely together with regional, national and international partners on worldwide (sustainability) challenges and local solutions. The sustainable development goals of the United Nations thus serve as an important guideline.

We offer challenging Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degree programmes. The research institute covers five research domains: Governance, Sustainable Economy, Language, Technology & Culture, Knowledge Infrastructures and Sustainable Heath. In the summer of 2019, Campus Fryslân has moved to the new faculty building De Beurs: the first all-electric, monumental educational building in the Netherlands.