Academic ConnectThe Trauma Research and Innovation Center Leuven (TRAIL) is a multidisciplinary research center dedicated to improving outcomes for trauma patients through cutting-edge and collaborative research. A collaborative team of scientists (biomedical scientists, material scientists, engineers) and healthcare workers is engaged in developing interdisciplinary collaborative research projects to achieve this goal. One of TRAIL’s core research areas is musculoskeletal infection, a major complication in trauma and orthopedic surgery – especially in high-risk cases such as complex open fractures where infection rates can reach up to 30%. With rising antimicrobial resistance, the need for alternative prevention and treatment strategies is therefore more pressing than ever.
Project
Bacteriophage therapy is a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics. Phages – viruses that specifically infect and lyse bacteria – offer several key advantages to standard antibiotics, including high specificity, self-amplification and effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant strains. Since 2018, phage therapy has been applied at the University Hospitals Leuven for patients with no remaining curative treatment options. Current indications include difficult-to-treat musculoskeletal infections, chronic rhinosinusitis, persistent bacteremia, pulmonary infections and hidradenitis suppurativa.
TRAIL plays a leading role in both national and international research in this area and is a founding partner of the Coordination group for Bacteriophage therapy Leuven (CBL). This interdisciplinary group – comprising clinical, pharmaceutical, and microbiological experts – focuses on developing standardized treatment protocols for phage therapy and is responsible for a patient registry to support this effort.
In a next step, the CBL has partnered with Sciensano and eight other Belgian hospitals to launch the EPHICACI (Establishing Personalized Phage Therapy and its Comparative Cost in difficult-to-treat Infections) study. This multicenter study aims to further advance the clinical implementation and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of personalized phage therapy across Belgium. A multicenter patient registry is maintained to collect data on phage therapy in a standardized way. Biological samples will be pooled and analyzed at UZ Leuven and Sciensano to better understand phage kinetics and dynamics. We are currently looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to contribute to this exciting and impactful research. The candidate will be embedded in a dynamic team, with access to a strong interdisciplinary network and the opportunity to collaborate on both clinical and translational studies in a rapidly evolving field.
Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated young researcher with a Master degree in Biomedical or Life Sciences, Medicine, Biology or related disciplines.
The successful candidate will be one of the coordinators of the multicenter EPHICACI study and will be responsible for sample analyses performed and pooled at UZ Leuven. For patients enrolled at UZ Leuven, the clinical responsibilities include close interaction with patients and physicians, coordination of study visits, data collection and ensuring documentation complies with the study protocol. In addition, the candidate will be involved in laboratory work, including (but not limited to) digital PCR (dPCR) and basic microbiological testing.
Candidates should have excellent teamwork and communication skills and are enthusiastic about collaborating with multiple partners and research groups. In addition to being Dutch-speaking, fluency in English is essential as this will be the language used to interrelate with the different partners. Candidates should be able to work independently as well as in a team and have a problem-solving attitude.
Experience in a microbiology lab environment is considered a plus, but is not a requirement.
Offer
We offer a fulltime employment for 1 year, which can be extended for 4 years after positive evaluation. The project should result in a successful PhD defense after 4 years.
Interested?
For more information please contact Mrs. Jolien Onsea, tel.: +32 16 37 34 23, mail: jolien.onsea@kuleuven.be or Mrs. Laura Bessems, tel.: +32 16 37 42 45, mail: laura.bessems@kuleuven.be.
You can apply for this job no later than August 22, 2025 via the online application tool
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