PhD's: Translating basic science in Inflammatory Bowel Disease to the clinic University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) - Groningen, the Netherlands — AcademicTransfer

PhD's: Translating basic science in Inflammatory Bowel Disease to the clinic University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) - Groningen, the Netherlands — AcademicTransfer

Job description

The Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology collaborates
closely with the Department of Genetics to study the genetics of
immune-related gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD) and primary sclerosing cholangitis. We are working on the
integration of large datasets of genetic data (NGS & Immunochip) and
16S RNA and WG sequencing data of the gut microbiota with prospective
clinical data collected in the nationwide IBD cohort for the Dutch
String of Pearls initiative. You will be working on the integration of
these large datasets or you will be performing functional research in
the wet lab to demonstrate the functional implications of the genetic
risk variants. The aim of both projects is the interpretation of the
genetic risk variants identified so far. You will be part of a team of
six PhD students and two postdocs.

Requirements

We need two PhD students: one with a strong bioinformatic
background and one with a strong background in immunobiology. All
candidates need to have good analytical skills, preferably a strong
background in genetics, and all candidates need to be fluent in English
(oral and written).

We are looking for self-motivated individuals with the drive to be
competitive at the international level. You are enthusiastic, ambitious
and a teamplayer.


The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. You may be required to
build up sufficient protection against Hepatitis B before you can be
appointed. Vaccination is provided by the UMCG if necessary.

Conditions of employment

Your salary is € 2.200,- gross per month in the first year up to
a maximum of € 2.818,- gross per month in the last fourth year (scale
PhD). In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, an 8.3%
end-of-year bonus and a personal development budget.

The terms of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centers (CAO-UMC).

PhD Student ‘Biomimetic Hydrogels for smart wound dressings’ Radboud university medical center - Nijmegen — AcademicTransfer

PhD Student ‘Biomimetic Hydrogels for smart wound dressings’ Radboud university medical center - Nijmegen — AcademicTransfer



 

Job description

Currently
available wound dressing materials, as applied after severe dermal and
sub-dermal injury, are far from ideal. Therefore, adjuvant therapies
need to be explored to improve wound repair. Recently a novel hydrogel,
Heal-x, has been developed (Nature  493, p.651–655). This material is
unique in that its mechanical properties perfectly match those of
collagen and fibrin filaments and is the only gel in the world that
mimics the strain stiffening properties of the natural extracellular
matrix (ECM), controlling cell motility and differentiation. Since these
gels mimic the extracellular microenvironment of humans it can be
expected that they promote tissue integrity and homeostasis. The
specific aim of the PhD track is to perform detailed analyses of the
responses to the micro-environment created by the Heal-X  as  compared
to currently used dressings. Main study read out parameters include: the
velocity of wound closure, effects on inflammatory, proliferative and
remodelling phase, keratinocyte migration, myofibroblast
formation/apoptosis, and to rule out toxic effects.

Requirements

• Master degree in a relevant area: medicine, biomedical sciences, bioengineering, medical biology
• Preferably experience with preclinical models, surgical techniques, wound healing, and/or histology
• An independent and proactive attitude
• Able to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary and international team
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong motivation and ambition to succeed in scientific research
• An independent working style, demanding high quality of your own work
• Excellent presentation and scientific writing skills

Conditions of employment

• Salary
  is € 2,200 gross per month in the first year up to € 2,818 gross per
  month in the fourth year, plus additional vacation bonus (8% per year)
  and end of year payments (8,3% per year)
• Employment will initially be for one year, and will be extended with an additional 3 years after a positive evaluation
• The employment for this position ideally starts before September 2015

Contract type:

Temporary,


one year