PhD position- Clinical-translational neuroimmunology of Parkinson’s disease

Let’s shape the future – University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow’s world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. 

The Gut-Immune-Brain Axis Lab (Prof. Seppe De Schepper, VIB–UAntwerp) and the Parkinson’s disease Research Team (Prof. David Crosiers Translational Neurosciences Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAntwerp; and Department of Neurology, UZA) are hiring a full-time (100%)  PhD to map how peripheral and circulating immune cells reflect early Parkinson’s disease (PD) biology. The project focuses on high-risk individuals and PD patients and aims to identify circulating immune signatures that anticipate disease onset and progression.

Our lab studies how peripheral immunity shapes brain health and neurodegeneration, with a strong track record in myeloid biology, immune trafficking, and α-synuclein pathology. The clinical team at UZA brings deep expertise in movement disorders and longitudinal cohort management. Together we offer a highly collaborative, translational environment embedded in VIB and the University of Antwerp.

Position

• Drive a clinical-translational PhD: cohort coordination (with clinical team), sample processing, immune profiling, and data interpretation.
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences.
• Contribute to limited teaching/service tasks and to open, reproducible science practices.
• During the doctoral scholarship, you will be asked to submit and defend an innovative project at the FWO (fwo.be) to obtain a personal fellowship. Please do check eligibility criteria prior to applying for this position.

Key Responsibilities

• Profile circulating immune cells in PD and prodromal cohorts and link them to clinical readouts and α-synuclein reactivity.
• Use cutting-edge single-cell and immune-profiling approaches, linked to clinical phenotyping, to discover early biomarkers and patient-stratification tools.
• Work side-by-side with neurologists on patient inclusion and sample workflows, with access to VIB core facilities and data-science support.

Profile

• Medical degree or MSc in biomedical sciences, medicine, bioengineering, or related field, with excellent study results.
• Strong interest in immunology and neurodegeneration; experience with human samples and/or immunophenotyping tools is a plus (eg flow cytometry)
• Comfortable working at the clinic–lab interface; excellent writing and communication in English (Dutch is an asset for patient-facing coordination).
• Motivated to work within an international project in Europe, including possible travelling.
• Proactive, rigorous, solution-oriented and a critical thinker.
• Attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• Teaching competences that are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision/VIB
• Research qualities that are in line with the faculty and university research policies/VIB

What we offer

• A doctoral scholarship for a period of 1 year to start with. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed.
• The applicant will be expected to actively seek independent funding and will be fully assisted in applying for personal fellowships, such as FWO
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and training in advanced techniques.
• Opportunities for career development, networking, and mentorship.
• Support for presenting at international conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
• Start date; as soon as possible
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders
• You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• You will do most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform.  Click on the ‘Apply’ button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include the following attachments:
• A cover letter detailing your research interests, experience and motivation to join the team
  • A curriculum vitae, including a list of publications.
  • Contact information for two references.
• The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible.  As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the possible next step(s) in the selection procedure.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to [email protected].
• If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact [email protected] 

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.