PhD student B Cell Immunology

About your role

In this four-year PhD position, you will investigate the quality of B cell responses to specific antigens in humans. You will develop and apply flow cytometry-based methods to identify and isolate antigen-specific B cells from human samples for single-cell profiling. You will make use of advanced technologies and work within a dynamic research team that develops innovative platforms and concepts to enhance our understanding of B cell responses to infections and vaccinations.

Your core tasks are:

• Characterizing B cell response and determining the functional quality of antibodies.
• Performing bioinformatics analyses of single-cell proteomics and transcriptomics datasets.
• Analysing the antibody repertoire in detail.
• Cloning and expressing recombinant monoclonal antibodies.
• Functionally characterizing antibodies using binding and inhibition assays.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to present your research findings at national and international conferences and publish them in peer-reviewed journals.

About your workplace

At LUCID, we work on multiple infectious diseases, with a focus on pathogenesis, immunology, drugs and vaccines. The department is multidisciplinary and diverse that combines molecular parasitology and vaccine design with immunology and clinical trials. We work at the forefront of vaccine development in an international environment with multiple collaborators globally. During your PhD, you will be collaborating within LUCID and have the possibility to be part of a wide network of scientists in infectious diseases nationally and internationally.
As a member of the B cell Immunology Team, you will join a diverse and international group of colleagues committed to scientific excellence. We prioritize high-quality research and are dedicated to mentoring and training team members to achieve this standard. Our overarching vision is to translate fundamental immunological insights into the development of effective vaccines.

About you

You are highly motivated to conduct research in fundamental immunology, with a particular interest in the immune response to infectious diseases in humans. You thrive in an interdisciplinary and international team, where you can further develop your scientific interests and technical skills. You possess excellent spoken and written communication skills in English and have a proactive, team-oriented mindset. You work with precision, think critically about your experiments, and can adjust your plans when necessary. In a dynamic research environment, you remain flexible and contribute to a collegial atmosphere.

You also have:

• A completed Master’s degree (MSc) in Biomedical Sciences or a related field.
• Practical experience with molecular and immunological techniques, including flow cytometry, cell isolation, cloning, protein expression, and binding assays.
• Strong organizational and planning skills for managing samples and data.
• Programming skills for data analysis (preferred).

Our offer

Driven by health; that's our mission. This applies not only to our patients but also to our employees. We strive to provide a safe, inclusive and equitable work environment, with a focus on talent development and connected leadership. In order to be able to continue to learn and develop, we offer internal and external training. You are also entitled to an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), holiday allowance, sports budget, bicycle scheme, home office allowance and an excellent commuting allowance. Furthermore, as an employee of LUMC, you are also affiliated with the ABP pension fund. This means that 70% of your pension premium is paid by LUMC, leaving you with a higher net salary. Nice, right?

See all employment conditions of the LUMC.

What do we represent?

As an academic medical center, LUMC strives to have a workforce that is a good reflection of society. We are committed to the highest quality in health care, education and (international) research, in which diverse perspectives are essential. Sustainability is also a high priority for us: we are committed to a healthy future, not only for people, but also for the planet. In line with these values, we aim to be a creative and inspiring place to work, where everyone feels at home, safe and valued. It's all about who you are and what you bring to contribute, regardless of your background. Together, we work toward a sustainable and inclusive future, both for the people around us and for the world we live in. Together, we are LUMC.  

More information

• As a PhD student, your salary will be between €3,108 and €3,939 gross per month (scale Pro, CAO UMC). These figures are based on a full-time position.
• The procedure involves several stages, including pre-selection, invitation for interview and presentation to the team.
• Please be available in the last two weeks of September for the potential invitation for interview with the team.
• Applications from employment/recruitment agencies will not be considered.