"PhD position in interdisciplinary research on personalized bacteriophage therapy"

Doctoral position in interdisciplinary research on personalized bacteriophage therapy for difficult-to-treat infections

(ref. BAP-2025-489)

Last modified: 04/08/25

The Trauma Research and Innovation Center Leuven (TRAIL) is a multidisciplinary research center dedicated to improving outcomes for trauma patients through groundbreaking and collaborative research. A team of scientists (biomedical scientists, materials scientists, engineers) and healthcare providers collaborates to develop interdisciplinary research projects to achieve this goal.

One of TRAIL's core themes is musculoskeletal infection, a serious complication of trauma and orthopedic surgery, particularly in high-risk patients such as those with complex open fractures, where infection rates can reach up to 30%. Due to the rise in antimicrobial resistance, the need for alternative prevention and treatment strategies is more urgent than ever.

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Project

Bacteriophage therapy is a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics. Bacteriophages – viruses that specifically infect and lyse bacteria – offer several advantages over standard antibiotics, including high specificity, in situ amplification, and efficacy against antibiotic-resistant strains. 

Since 2018, phage therapy has been used at University Hospitals Leuven for patients for whom curative treatment options are no longer available. Current indications include difficult-to-treat musculoskeletal infections, chronic rhinosinusitis, persistent bacteremia, lung infections, and hidradenitis suppurativa. 

TRAIL plays a leading role in both national and international research in this field and is a co-founder of the Coordination Group for Bacteriophage Therapy Leuven (CBL). This interdisciplinary group—comprising clinical, pharmaceutical, and microbiological experts—is developing standardized treatment protocols for phage therapy and managing 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 study (Establishing Personalized Phage Therapy and its Comparative Cost in Difficult-to-Treat Infections). This multicenter study aims to further promote the clinical implementation of personalized phage therapy and evaluate its cost-effectiveness in Belgium. A multicenter patient registry will be maintained to collect data in a standardized manner. Biological samples will be collected and analyzed at UZ Leuven and Sciensano to gain a better understanding of phage kinetics and dynamics. 

We are currently seeking a motivated PhD student to contribute to this exciting and socially relevant research project. The candidate will join a dynamic team, gain access to a strong interdisciplinary network, and have the opportunity to collaborate on both clinical and translational studies in a rapidly evolving field of research. 

Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated young researcher with a master's degree in the biomedical or life sciences, medicine, biology or related disciplines.

The selected candidate will be one of the coordinators of the multicenter EPHICACI study and will be responsible for the analysis of samples collected and analyzed within UZ Leuven. 

For patients enrolled at UZ Leuven, clinical responsibilities include: close collaboration with patients and physicians, coordination of study visits, collection of clinical data, and ensuring accurate documentation in accordance 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 analyses. 

We expect candidates to possess excellent collaboration and communication skills and to be enthusiastic about working with multiple partners and research groups. Candidates must be fluent in English, both spoken and written, as this will be the primary language for communication with the various partners and research groups. Furthermore, we expect the candidate to be able to work independently, but also function well within a team, and possess strong problem-solving skills. 

Experience in microbiology is a plus, but not a requirement. 

Offer

We offer a full-time, one-year position with the possibility of extension to four years after a positive evaluation. The project aims to obtain a doctoral degree (PhD) after four years. 

Interested?

For more information, please contact Ms. Jolien Onsea, tel.: +32 16 37 34 23, email: jolien.onsea@kuleuven.be, or Ms. Laura Bessems, tel.: +32 16 37 42 45, email: laura.bessems@kuleuven.be.

You can apply for this vacancy until 22/08/2025 via our online application application

KU Leuven strives to be an inclusive, respectful, and socially safe community. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and diverse perspectives are essential in an ambitious research and educational environment. In our pursuit of equal opportunities, we acknowledge the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, among other things, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national origin, skin color, religious beliefs, neurodivergence, disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support services, please contact us at this email address .

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Do you have a question about the online application process? Consult our FAQs or send an email to solliciteren@kuleuven.be