"PhD In Immunomodulation for In Situ Tissue Regeneration"

Job Description

Are you inspired by the potential to use degradable synthetic implants that are transformed into living tissues by the body itself? Are you fascinated by our ability to use the immune system to our advantage to induce tissue regeneration in situ? Are you eager to contribute to better and sustainable healthcare? Are you passionate about inspiring and mentoring students and working in a high-end collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment? Are you our next PhD in Immunomodulation for Tissue Regeneration?

Information

There is an increasing clinical demand for sophisticated medical implants and the scientific field of implant technology is exponentially growing. The main challenge is to harness the immune response to such an implant. In this research we use the immune response to our advantage, by using bioresorbable synthetic biomaterials that are gradually replaced by living tissue, directly at the functional site in the body, or in situ. Our research on this technology has, for example, led to the world’s first clinical trials using regenerative heart valves for children with congenital cardiac malformations.

While tremendous progress has been made in terms of manufacturing technologies for biomaterials and implants, there is relatively little progress in terms of fundamentally understanding the inflammatory and regenerative process in vivo. The various cellular interactions in in situ tissue engineering, and how these are influenced by (1) the local niche (i.e. biomaterial and extracellular matrix environment) and (2) systemic factors (e.g. immunological state), are largely overlooked to date. Moreover, preclinical in vivo studies have yielded unexplained variabilities in outcome. This raises the question to what extent patient-specific systemic aspects influence the local immunological and regenerative processes. The main aim of your research will be to delineate the combined influences of systemic immunity and local immunomodulation on the process of in situ tissue regeneration at the local tissue site, in order to (i) enable the elucidation of patient-specific immunity on in situ tissue regeneration, and (ii) enable the (precision) targeting of systemic immunity to steer the regenerative process at any time during implantation.

Embedding

You will be embedded in a highly inspiring research environment, both socially and professionally, which facilitates access to high-end research facilities, as well as fosters interdisciplinary collaborations. Your project is part of the DRIVE-RM research program (NWO Summit) and will run in close collaboration with partners from University Medical Center Utrecht. You will be an integral member of the ImmunoRegeneration team and the overarching Soft Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology research group (headed by Prof. Carlijn Bouten) at our Department. Moreover, you will be affiliated to the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, our interdepartmental center for research excellence.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers top-level education and research in one of the most relevant and exciting scientific disciplines of the 21st century: engineering health. In combining engineering and life sciences, through challenge-based learning and a multidisciplinary approach in collaboration with hospitals, industry and others, the department addresses the great challenges of the future, striving to improve healthcare and society as a whole.

Requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Biomedical Engineering.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Experience in cell culture is a must. Expertise/training in immunology and/or tissue regeneration is strongly preferred.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team with researchers at different academic levels (MSc, PhD, Post-doc).
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Conditions of Employment

Fixed-term contract: 4 years. A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881 gross per month).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.