At the Laboratory of Hematology, section of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, we are focusing on coagulation disorders. Hemostasis is a complex and tightly regulated system, and a disbalance in this system can cause thrombosis on one side, whereas bleeding can occur on the other. The relevance of a functional hemostatic system is reflected in the fact that hemorrhage following trauma is one of the most important causes of death under the age of 46 years, whereas thrombosis related diseases are the general leading cause of mortality, incidence increasing with age.

Correct diagnosis of a bleeding or prothrombotic tendency forms an important hurdle in clinical practice. In approximately 50% of the patients with a bleeding diathesis and even a larger percentage of people with a history of thrombosis, a causal aberrance in hemostasis cannot be identified, even after extensive laboratory and genetic testing. As a PhD candidate you will contribute to this fundamental question by identifying and characterizing novel causal variants in patients with unexplained bleeding or thrombotic tendency using state of art genetic, molecular and biochemical techniques.

Furthermore, during treatment of hemostatic disorders with novel anti- and procoagulant medication, indication for testing, opportunities for rapid testing and validation of technical performance as well as clinical validation in specific patient populations has been explored to a limited extent. The PhD candidate will focus on these directly clinically relevant aspects as well.

Our research aims to span the entire field from fundamental research to applied science with direct impact for individual patients, which is strongly reflected in this project.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Genomic/ transcriptomic/ proteomic analysis.
• Functional analysis of identified genes/ proteins.
• Conducting systematic searches in literature databases.
• Validation of laboratory tests.
• Writing scientific publications for international journals.
• Presenting results at (scientific) meetings.
• Collaborating with supervisors, internal and external partners.

All these tasks are aimed at obtaining an academic PhD. In addition, PhD students contribute to general activities taking place within the laboratory of hematology and within the research institute.

You are a highly motivated PhD candidate with a keen interest in hemostasis as one of the leading causes for morbidity and mortality. You have a resilient ambition to unravel novel fundamental biological mechanisms, but also to pursue the application of diagnostic opportunities to improve patient care.

You are proactive in your efforts to approach this research project from multiple angles, and you have excellent communication skills to establish (novel) cooperations as well as eminent writing skills to communicate your findings with the (academic) society.

Moreover you have:

• Finished a master in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Molecular Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences or a related master.
• Experience in molecular biology, pathobiology, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics.
• Languages: Fluent in English.

Fixed-term contract: 3 years with a possible extension to 4 years.

Starting date is 1 March 2024. At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• Upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€2,901 based on a full-time appointment). Over a maximum period of 4 years, you will progress to scale 10A, step 3 (€3,677 based on a full-time appointment). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a 47% to 72% bonus for working unsocial hours.
• Plenty of opportunities for personal development. You can take a variety of courses in our online learning environment. You can also share knowledge with colleagues through digital learning spaces – perfect for getting inspired and inspiring others.
• Your well-being and vitality are our priorities. For instance, you can enjoy a 40% discount on a sports subscription at the Radboud Sports Center along with access to the Healthy Professionals program designed to assist you in managing your energy. If you are going through a life-changing event, our Company Support Team and a personal coach are there to help you.
• Support in achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. This includes advice and training courses (from ‘Millennial Dilemmas’ to ‘Your Career After 57’), activities at our own mindfulness center, and informal caregiving consultations if you have questions about juggling work and caregiving responsibilities at home.
• 168 holiday hours per year (23 days) based on a 36-hour working week.
• 26 weeks of parental leave, nine of which are paid.
• You build up a pension by ABP Pension Fund, and Radboudumc pays 70% of the pension premium.
• Discounts on health insurance and ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• An allowance for your travel expenses or a working-from-home allowance of €2 per day.

Radboudumc

At the Laboratory of Hematology, section of Thrombosis and Hemostasis in department of laboratory medicine, we are responsible for research and laboratory diagnostics for patients with hemostatic disorders. We conduct research in the entire spectrum of fundamental, translational and applied science to ultimately improve treatment of our (academic) patient population, including patients of the Hemophilia Treatment Center Nijmegen Eindhoven Maastricht (HBC-NEM). Furthermore, we provide education on hemostasis.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare.