Apply before 07/09/2025 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Department: GE38 - Structuur en Herstel van de Mens
- Occupancy rate:100%
- Number of positions: 1
- Type of employment: Contract of unlimited duration with clause
- Term of assignment: 1 year with a maximum term of 3 years, upon successful assessment in the first year
- Wage scale: PD1 to PD4 (doctoral degree)
- Required diploma:PhD
ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY
Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 8,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programs grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
ABOUT THE HOST LAB
Extracellular vesicles are membrane-enclosed communicative particles released in body fluids that carry cell-type-specific molecular patterns including nucleic acids and proteins. Knowledge on their origin, fate and function in the human body is required to accelerate therapeutic and diagnostic applications but hampered by a plethora of technological pitfalls (Hendrix, Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 2021). The Hendrix lab created the EV-TRACK knowledgebase and launched the EV-TRACK coaching tool to stimulate transparency and steer reproducibility (Van Deun et al., Nat Methods, 2017). We designed recombinant extracellular vesicles, that are easily trackable and distinguishable from sample extracellular vesicles, to support instrument calibration and data normalization (Geeurickx et al., Nat Commun, 2019; Nat Protoc, 2021). We established reproducible protocols to separate extracellular vesicles from other particles in body fluids (Tulkens et al., Nat Protoc, 2020). This supporting ecosystem has steered the Hendrix lab towards the novel discoveries in the role of extracellular vesicles in cancer progression.
As a post-doctoral researcher, you will play a fundamental role in a Foundation Against Cancer-funded grant, which aims to investigate the role of extracellular vesicles in cancer progression.
YOUR TASKS
- At least 85% of your assignment will be dedicated to academic research.
- You implement state-of-the-art technologies to analyze extracellular vesicles.
- You will be embedded in a team consisting of a dedicated lab technician, an experienced bio-informatician, PhD students and post-docs that is dedicated to the study of extracellular vesicles and operating at the wet and dry lab interface ranging from the study of the composition of extracellular vesicles towards assessing their function.
- You will be active at the Hendrix lab (Ghent University) which is embedded in the Ghent University Hospital campus ensuring close interaction with clinicians. You will be in very close interaction with partners from Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG, Ghent), Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB, Ghent) as well as (inter)national collaborating teams to enable multidisciplinary investigations.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Diploma, knowledge and experience
- You hold a Ph.D. in Life Sciences (obtained max. 6 years ago as determined by the date written on the diploma)
- You have a strong background in molecular biology, in vivo models and/or omics data analysis.
- Excellent written and oral English skills are required.
- You have a proven track record of successful research and high ranked publications.
- You have a keen interest in cancer biology and extracellular vesicles.
Skills and attitudes
- You are a talented and enthusiastic researcher, who is seriously motivated and has a sense for high professional standards.
- You are ambitious and passionate about research and ready to be the key link between multiple researchers involved in this project.
- You have the ability to work autonomously while having strong team player skills.
- You are motivated towards applying for future competitive postdoc grants (e.g. FWO).
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- We offer you a contract of indefinite duration (1 year to maximum 3 years upon successful assessment in the first year).
- Your contract will start as soon as possible.
- Participate in an exciting and rapidly evolving new research area within a multidisciplinary environment in an EU-funded lab that operates at international level and is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies.
- Become member of an integrated research platform connecting young, dynamic and enthusiastic research staff with great team spirit.
- A defined track for postdoc coaching and career development (see postdoc community at Ghent University).
- Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale PD1. Click here for more information about our salary scales. If the candidate is eligible for an appointment in the context of international mobility and meets the relevant conditions, this vacancy can be deviated from and a tax-free grant will be offered.
- All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, a bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits (in Dutch).
INTERESTED?
Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.
Your application must include the following documents:
- In the field ‘CV’: your CV and a transcript of your academic record (merged into one pdf file)
- In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter in pdf format.
- In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via selecties@ugent.be or +32 9 264 34 36