utrecht university phd requirements

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Apply by: 2024-05-12

PhD position in characterisation of polymer-based gene delivery vehicles

Interested in designing & fundamentally understanding new fabrication strategies for polymer-based gene delivery vehicles? This PhD position might be for you!

JOB DESCRIPTION

Our DNA is an intricate database holding all information essential to life. Although often correct, small errors can lead to (severe) genetic disorders. A promising strategy to cure these diseases is to rewrite the genetic database. In principle, this can be achieved by delivering therapeutic nucleic acids. To facilitate delivery, the nucleic acid cargo is packaged in nanoparticles. Despite the hypothesised potential, these particles typically only deliver a fraction of their cargo. Evidently, this is unacceptable for clinical translation and major improvements are needed. Your job Fueled by a recently awarded ERC Starting Grant (POLYPATH) our team works on developing novel fabrication routes for polyplexes based on polymerisation-induced electrostatic self-assembly (PIESA). PIESA offers a synthetic tool to manipulate the polyplex assembly process. Your role will be to fundamentally understand how PIESA impacts the polyplex properties and how we can design assembly pathways that will lead to polyplexes with optimised pharmaceutical potential. To get to these insights, you will use advanced analytical techniques, including (time-resolved) small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and NMR relaxometry. Combing this set of challenging techniques, will paint a detailed picture on the encapsulation of nucleic acids by forming polymers from molecular to colloidal length scales. This project will be a collaborative effort with the ' Self Organizing Soft Matter ' group of  Professor Ilja Voets  at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and  Dr. Camilla Terenzi  and the  Biophysics Department  of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The interdisciplinary nature, large collaborative network and societal relevant research direction make this PhD position the ideal opportunity for you to develop into an independent and versatile researcher. Additionally, you will have the chance to contribute to educating the next generation of (pharmaceutical) scientists through active involvement in the educational programmes of Utrecht University.

REQUIREMENTS

This PhD position is the right fit for you if you are enthousiastic and collaborative, and meet several or all of the following criteria:

• You have a MSc degree in physical chemistry, polymer chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, pharmaceutics or related disciplines.
• You have a strong background in X-ray scattering and affinity with other advanced analytical techniques  e.g. , NMR and/or fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS).
• You are able to analyse complex data sets with the use of mathematical models and software (Phyton, MatLab, SasView etc.).
• You are able to work in multidisciplinary research environment;
• You have excellent communicative skills in English, both in writing and speech.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• a position for four years;
• a working week of 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 2.770,- and € 3.539,- in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the  terms of employment  laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating  professional development , leave schemes and schemes for  sports and cultural activities , as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit  Working at Utrecht University .

Universiteit Utrecht

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At  Utrecht University , the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major  strategic themes . Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability.  Sharing science, shaping tomorrow . At the  Faculty of Science  there are 6 departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Physics. Each of these is made up of distinct institutes that work together to focus on answering some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. More fundamental still are the individual research groups – the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects. The advertised research project will be conducted in the  Pharmaceutics  division within the  Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences . The Pharmaceutics division is an internationally renowned top-research group in the field of drug delivery. The core activity of the division is the design and pre-clinical testing of tailor-made drug delivery systems for site-specific, time- and/or rate-controlled delivery of small molecular weight drugs, therapeutic proteins, nucleic acids (including DNA and RNA), and antigens for therapy and prevention of life-threatening diseases such as cancer, inflammation and infectious diseases. The Pharmaceutics team consist of scientists from all over the world with backgrounds ranging from pharmacy, biology, chemistry and material science. Within this multidisciplinary research environment, we aim to generate new fundamental understanding of drug delivery systems and connect this to applied pharmaceutical research.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information, please contact  Dr. Bas van Ravensteijn  at  [email protected] . Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to  [email protected] .

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PhD position: Investigating Nanoparticulate Vaccine Behaviour in RA

Job Information

Offer description.

Are you interested in immunological research at the boundary of fundamental and translational research? Do you want to contribute to novel therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? And at the same time develop your teaching skills? We offer a PhD position in our enthusiastic team of researchers!

Your job Current therapeutic approaches for RA often rely on broad immune suppression. While effective in managing symptoms, this hampers crucial immune responses including vaccine efficacy. Our research indicates that vaccination with antigen-carrying nanoparticles holds promise for long-term RA relief. In this PhD project, you will spearhead the translation of this approach to human patients, investigating how nanoparticulate vaccines interact with RA patient material, considering factors like disease state and medication impact. Your findings will be pivotal in predicting vaccine safety and efficacy for future clinical trials.

The team, led by Professor Femke Broere , has many years of experience in studying RA and is at the forefront of novel therapies to treat this disease. Embedded in the Immunology group of the division of Infectious diseases & Immunology , we are an international team of researchers working on a wide range of topics, including veterinary and human immunology and vaccines. As a team, we prioritise effective collaboration, ongoing feedback, and both professional and personal development.

This appointment is for five years, with a commitment of 20% to teaching. As a PhD candidate, you will conduct cutting-edge research, publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, present at conferences, and actively engage in the academic community.

Requirements

• You hold a Master’s degree in biomedical sciences or similar.
• You have affinity (and preferably experience) with human cell culture and immunological assays (e.g., flow cytometry).
• Article 9 animal science certification is a benefit.
• You are an independent person with good communication skills who can quickly take control over your project.
• You have strong proficiency in English, both verbally and in writing.

Additional Information

• a position for one year, with the possibility of extension for up to five years in total;
• a working week of 32 to 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,770 and €3,539 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU);
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible employment conditions based on the collective labor agreement for Dutch Universities.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development , leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities , as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University .

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.

For more information, please contact Dr Naomi Benne via [email protected] or Professor Femke Broere via [email protected] .

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

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Entry requirements.

For all Master’s programmes at Utrecht University, the Admission Committee of the programme decides whether your are accepted. The Committee employs the following criteria:

• Is your degree considered (at least) equivalent to a Dutch academic Bachelor's degree? The International Office assesses all international credentials according to the credential evaluation criteria of the Nuffic (the Netherlands Organisation for international cooperation in Higher Education), and advises the Admissions Committee on this subject.
• Is your previous degree relevant to the Master's programme you are applying to, and do you meet the specific entry requirements for the Master's programme? See the website of the Master's programme > Admission and application
• Are you proficient in English or Dutch (i.e., the language in which the programme is taught)?
• Do you demonstrate talent and motivation? 

Check the website of the Master's programme > Admission and application for detailed information.

Are you uncertain whether you qualify for admission?

Discuss your situation in a timely manner with the contact person for your Master’s programme. You will find the contact details on the website of the programme (via ‘Master’s programmes’). Note: the contact person cannot make a decision as to whether or not you are admissible.

Utrecht University Heidelberglaan 8 3584 CS Utrecht The Netherlands Tel. +31 (0)30 253 35 50

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Doing a Phd

If you have completed your Master's programme, and you are enthusiastic about doing research in your field, then maybe doing a Doctorate (PhD) might be something for you. A Doctor’s degree is the highest academic degree awarded by a Dutch university. You start as 'assistant in training' (aio) or 'researcher in training' (oio).

At Utrecht University

At Utrecht University you take part in education in one of the Graduate Schools and often also teach students. During the four-year PhD programme you work under the guidance of a professor on creating a research project that results in a dissertation or a series of articles in scientific journals. You can search for positions on research projects on offer or a position whereby you are free to submit your own research proposal. Read more on doing a PhD at Utrecht University. 

Other options

The best way to find a PhD position is through networking with the professor in the field you wish to specialize. Another option is to search via www.academictransfer.nl . Here you can also find more information on doing PhD research in the Netherlands. 

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