"PhD position in Mass Spectrometry-Based Antibody Analysis"

Job Description

You will join an expert team that pushes the boundaries of mass spectrometry-based technologies to investigate the human immune response. Our lab researches the repertoires of antibodies circulating in our body, aiming to identify antibodies of interests that target microbial antigens and/or represent auto-antibodies. You will focus on the identification of these antibodies by using mass spectrometry based de novo sequencing, machine learning and AI-tools to interpret the data.

Your Job

The primary objective of the project is to further develop mass spectrometry-based techniques to sequence and identify circulating antibodies. Our lab introduced innovative methods to enrich antibodies of interest (e.g. anti-viral antibodies) from individual serum samples. You will further develop and optimize these methods, with as special aim to enrich for antigen-specific antibodies. A secondary key objective is to improve bioinformatic and AI tools to analyse the mass spectrometry data and improve the de novo sequencing workflows. Your work will lead to new antibody leads, that can be recombinantly produced and ultimately tested for efficacy and development into therapeutics.

Main Responsibilities

• Perform a combination of biochemistry, analytical chemistry and bioinformatic research to study the humoral immune response.
• Plan and perform experiments, followed by the analysis, interpretation and reporting of data and results.
• Communicate and interact with the research group, as well as with collaboration partners from academia and industry.
• Write scientific publications and present at national and/or international conferences.
• Operate and maintain LC-MS instruments (ZenoToF, TimsTOF and Orbitraps).
• Help the team in laboratory specific tasks whenever needed.

Requirements

• Master in chemistry, analytical chemistry and/or bioinformatics.
• Keen interest in antibody biology and human immune responses.
• Previous experience and keen interest in developing skills in data analysis, statistics, and/or visualization is an advantage.
• Previous hands-on experience (and passion) for LC-MS-based and related data analysis is an advantage.
• Strong communication skills in English are essential.

Conditions of Employment

A position for 18 months (1.0 FTE), with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months; a gross monthly salary between € 3.059 and €3.881 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)); 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus; a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model.

Employer

Universiteit Utrecht. A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability.

Working at the Faculty of Science means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure.

The Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) is the research institute of the department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Utrecht University. UIPS focuses on processes around discovery, development, and use of drugs and medical nutrition using molecular and technological principles from the Natural and Life Sciences.

You will be embedded in the division of Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics. The research in this division focuses on the use of mass spectrometry based enabling technologies to deeply understand the inner workings of cells at the molecular level.