Do you want to study how intestinal stem cells can be used in Organ-on-Chip technology and used in toxicological studies? Do you want to understand how nutrients and chemicals in our food interact within the intestinal epithelium and immune system? Are you motivated to work in an interdisciplinary team of scientists embedded in an ambitions Dutch research consortium? We have a PhD position that combine intestinal stem cell biology in Organ-on-Chip models at the chair group of Toxicology of Wageningen University. Are you the enthusiastic stem cell biologist with affinity for toxicology and immunology we are looking for?

What are you going to do?
You will set up an intestine-on-chip based on adult human stem cells in which you combine with relevant other cell types that are present in the intestinal tissue.
You will implement your excellent cell culturing skills and exploit molecular assays (i.e. routine cell biology and biochemical measurements, ELISA and confocal microscopy) and gene expression studies (i.e. qPCR, NGS) in your mechanistic studies. Next to building and benchmarking the models, you have the ambition to understand the mode of action of food chemicals and nutrients on intestinal physiology.
You will be embedded in the chair group of Toxicology of Wageningen University and collaborate with the Radboud University Medical Center. As part of the chair group, you will also be involved in training MSc and BSc students. You will be co-supervised by Dr. ir. Hans Bouwmeester, Dr. Nynke Kramer.

About the project:
This project is part of the Smart OoC project funded by NWO-TTW Perspective Programme.

• successfully completed MSc degree in biology, molecular life sciences, toxicology or immunology or a relevant related field
• the ability to perform independent lab work, and affinity for the collaborative nature of this project
• excellent English language proficiency (a minimum of CEFR C2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page
• proven experience in working with (intestinal) stem cells, immune cells and/or organ-on-chip models, this will be considered as a pre
• worked with molecular biology techniques (i.e. cytotoxicity assays, qPCR). Experience with confocal microscopy, and -omics techniques will also be considered as a pre
• You are highly driven and curious. "Why?" is a question you often ask, both inside and outside of science

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team. The gross salary for the first year is € 2.443,- per month rising to € 3.122,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours.
We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the "Best University" in the Netherlands for the 17th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University and Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branches, 7.200 employees and 13.200 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen's unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

These are the points our employees list as good reasons to come work at WUR: read the 5 reasons to come work at WUR

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.