PhD position Immunogenetics

Department

Genetica

Working Enviroment

The Genetics department is an ambitious department within the UMCG where impactful research is done with population and patient cohorts and biobanks. Our modern open office and lab spaces create a flexible and dynamic atmosphere and you will interact and work with an international team of enthousiastic PhDs, postdocs and technicians, under supervision of PI's Iris Jonkers and Sebo Withoff.

Job description

The Immunogenetics group of the Department of Genetics of the University Medical Center Groningen is looking for a motivated PhD student interested in studying the genetics of autoimmune diseases in general, and celiac disease in particular. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, in which patients suffer from severe inflammation upon ingestion of gluten-containing products such as bread. The Department of Genetics has performed the genome wide association study for Celiac Disease and it is our aim to understand how genetic loci associated to celiac disease influence disease processes and lead to inflammation. As celiac disease genetics overlaps with the genetics of other autoimmune disorders, our results are also applicable to other autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and IBD. Using modern next-generation-sequencing techniques and advanced model systems, we will profile the (genetic) causes and consequences of autoimmunity.

During this 4 year project, you will investigate how genes play a role in the disease processes that lead to celiac disease in both cells and organoids derived from the small intestine as in immune cells from blood or intestinal tissue. With advanced techniques like CRISPR-Cas9, you will manipulate genes in these cells and interrogate the consequences thereof with genomics techniques. Moreover, you will generate genomics data of patient material such as biopsies to understand the disease specific processes in patients.

Requirements

We are searching for a person with a passion for science that has recently graduated from an MSc program in the directions Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Bioinformatics or a similar topic. You are enthusiastic, ambitious and intrinsically driven to perform your own research project. You have experience with genomics techniques such as (Single cell ) RNAseq, ChIPseq and/or ATACseq. You will generate data using primary cell types derived from patients, so affinity with cell culture is also beneficial. Moreover, experience with data analysis using R and/or Python is important. Research is team work, so we are looking for a person with good communicative skills that believes that collaboration is an asset. An excellent grasp of the English language is also important.

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. The UMCG can provide you with the vaccination, should it be required for your position.

In case of specific professions a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ is required.

Conditions of employment

The UMCG offers a full time contract for the duration of 4 years (40 hours a week). Your salary will be a minimum of € 2.570,- gross per month in the first year and a maximum of € 3.271,- gross per month (scale PhD) in the final (4th) year, based on a full-time appointment. In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy you may contact:

Sebo Withoff telefoonnummer 06 5574 5783
s.withoff@umcg.nl
Iris Jonkers telefoonnummer 06 3655 6171
i.h.jonkers@umcg.nl

Applying for a job

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