Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation uniquely combines medical, diagnostic, blood bank and research activities. With 2,000 committed colleagues and 345,000 blood donors, we aim to provide a better life for 300,000 patients each year.
The Division of Research and Lab Services of Sanquin is home to 250 researchers, including over 60 PhD students and 30 postdocs. Research at Sanquin is organized in four strategic themes: Anemia, Bleeding & Hemostasis, Immunity & Inflammation, and Immune Therapy. The joint mission of research at Sanquin is to develop novel methods and approaches using blood cells and blood products to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure disease in donors and patients. Research activities cover the full spectrum of early inventions, development into novel products and services, donor studies, and clinical studies in patients. Our research labs are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including flow cytometry and cell sorting, macromolecular mass spectrometry and proteomics, and imaging. Many of our scientists have academic affiliations with Dutch Universities and University Medical Centers. Sanquin is strategically located in Amsterdam, with a special tie to the Amsterdam UMC (Joint Landsteiner Laboratory).
This project focuses on developing coagulation factor mimetics employing novel antibody formats that can arrest bleeding. Currently, no specific treatment of bleeding linked to trauma and/or surgery is available; the majority of patients are treated by administration of plasma supplemented with platelet and red blood cell concentrates. Also, current treatment options for patients with rare bleeding disorders are limited. In the context of the UNIBLEED program, we aim to develop a novel universal therapy for maintaining hemostasis in patients at risk for bleeding.
Objectives
- Computational de novo design of VHH and scFv binders to blood coagulation factors such as factor Xa and prothrombin.
- Wet lab production and screening of the aforementioned binders.
- Optimization of heterobispecific Fc format using protein engineering focusing on humanization and improved stability.
- Generation of high affinity minibinders for blood coagulation factors based on "in silico affinity maturation" of binding domains of clearance receptors.
Embedding
This project will be conducted in multidisciplinary collaboration between the Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Structural Biology (Dr. Matti Pronker), the Laboratory of Immunoglobulin Research (Prof. Gestur Vidarsson), the Laboratory of Cellular Hemostasis (Prof. Jan Voorberg) and the Laboratory of Proteomics (Dr. Maartje van den Biggelaar) at Sanquin in Amsterdam.
Our expectations
We expect the recruited PhD student to contribute with her/his unique expertise to our expanding research team on translational synthetic biology. Candidates with experience in AI-based protein design and/or structural biology are particularly invited to apply. We are looking for highly motivated candidates who can help us to develop novel treatment paradigms for patients with blood-related disorders.
Our offer
We offer an international - academically oriented - research environment with state-of-the-art equipment. The position will be for 4 years.
- A challenging translational project in a multi-disciplinary, international team;
- Salary and conditions are conform CAO Sanquin;
- 8.33% end-of-year bonus; i.e. a thirteenth month in case of full-year employment;
- Partial reimbursement of travel costs;
- Pension plan with Pensioenfonds Zorg & Welzijn (PFZW);
- At full-time employment (36 hours) 201 hours of leave per annum.
Applications
If you are interested in this position, please apply by submitting your extended CV before August 31, 2026. More information can be obtained from the website (www.sanquin.org/research/research-vacancies) or by sending an email to Dr. Matti Pronker (m.pronker@sanquin.nl) or Prof. dr. Jan Voorberg (j.voorberg@sanquin.nl).
Acquisition is not appreciated. Sanquin does not accept unsolicited help from agencies for vacancies. CVs sent (in any form whatsoever) by placement agencies to any Sanquin employee without a valid written assignment by HR Sanquin will be considered property of Sanquin for which no compensation is owed in any way.
Address Details
Plesmanlaan 125
1066 CX Amsterdam