Functie

We now open a PhD position on the laboratory development and clinical evaluation of RPA assays for viral hemorrhagic fever diagnosis. The PhD student will be based in the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, and will be enrolled in the KUL PhD program (Arenberg doctoral school, Leuven).

Your role

· You will contribute to the laboratory development of RPA assays for viral hemorrhagic fever detection.

· You will contribute to the clinical evaluation of RPA assays for viral hemorrhagic fever diagnosis.

· You will bring short-term research visits to low-and-middle-income countries like in Central and Western Africa .

· You will prepare a PhD-thesis within a period of four years.

· You will present findings at scientific conferences and write scientific manuscripts.

· You will write high quality publications for scientific journals.

· You will contribute to acquiring funding for viral diagnostic research within the group.

· You will build a network of internal and external collaborators.

· You will contribute to the research group’s management, including student supervision.

Jouw profiel

Your profile

We are seeking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated PhD candidate to join our dynamic team.

· You hold a master’s degree in (bio)medical or pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry, biotechnology, or a related field in life sciences.

· You have a background in applying molecular biology techniques preferentially in the microbiology (virology) field.

· You have knowledge on molecular diagnostic test development (such as primer design, and using NCBI blast)

· You have strong affinity for laboratory evaluations of diagnostic molecular tests.

· You take an interest in clinical performance evaluations of diagnostic tests and in clinical study management (e.g., study protocol development, biobanking).

· You hold statistical skills (e.g., for sample size, sensitivity, specificity, positive-, and negative-predictive value, limit-of-detection calculations)

· You have an interest in regulatory and ethical principles in diagnostic test development.

· You have an interest in viral haemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Lassa).

· You have an interest in developing bioinformatic skills (basic programming skills in R and Python is an asset)

· You have strong conceptual, analytical, and scientific writing skills.

· You are a team player, have good communication skills, interest in student supervision, and a strong capacity for building multi-disciplinary working relationships.

· You have good planning and organizational skills.

· You are highly motivated and have affinity with ITM's objectives and spirit.

· You have an interest to collaborate with research partners from low-and-middle-income countries

· You are flexible and willing to travel occasionally to Central and Western Africa (e.g. short durations of 2 weeks, 2 times per year).

· Y ou speak and write English fluently, knowledge of French is a strong asset.

• Onderzoeksgegevens en –resultaten bestuderen en analyseren
• Wetenschappelijk onderzoek en ontwikkelingen voorstellen en verklaren
• Wetenschappelijke, technologische, technische, reglementaire, … informatie opvolgen en actualiseren
• Het verloop en de vooruitgang van wetenschappelijke experimenten en observaties leiden en controleren
• Onderzoekers, instituten, ondernemingen adviseren en wetenschappelijke steun bieden
• Rapporten, publicaties en scripties opstellen
• Methodes voor onderzoek en voor de gegevensverzameling en –analyse bepalen en ontwikkelen
• Berekeningen, metingen, experimenten en observaties uitvoeren
  Resultaten controleren

Aanbod

Our offer:

The ITM is an open and international campus where staff, students and researchers work on new international health challenges. We strive for excellence, integrity, specificity, and efficiency. Your assignment contributes to our mission. We value human dignity and diversity, academic creativity and a critical spirit, solidarity and cooperation, and the well-being of employees, students, patients, and clients. Together we ensure a pleasant working atmosphere with attention to work-life balance and opportunities for training. We offer you:

· A full-time contract as a PhD student for a period of two years (extendable after positive intermediate evaluation). Preferential starting date: Summer 2024

· A collegial working atmosphere with attention to work-life balance and individual growth and development. The ITM is easily accessible by public transport.

· A salary package depending on your profile and professional experience, and supplementary benefits, such as private pension scheme, meal voucher subscription and reimbursement of transport.

Solliciteren

HR Recruitment
033455860
recruitment@itg.be