PostDoc on Targeted Proteomics for Protein Biomarker Standardization

The challenge

Protein tumor markers can support minimally invasive lung cancer diagnostics, but results from current immunoassays vary between platforms and laboratories. You will help close this standardization gap by developing and validating targeted mass-spectrometry workflows and reference measurement procedures for clinically relevant protein biomarkers, including CEA, NSE and CYFRA21-1.

Your role

You will conduct hands-on research in quantitative targeted proteomics, with emphasis on immunoaffinity enrichment, bottom-up LC-MS/MS and SISCAPA-based workflows. You will select and evaluate signature peptides, establish calibration strategies using stable-isotope-labelled standards, characterize reference proteins and peptides, and assess sensitivity, selectivity, recovery, matrix effects, precision, accuracy and robustness. You will compare candidate reference methods with commercial immunoassays and contribute to analysis of serum and pleural-fluid samples.

You will integrate activities across connected projects that aim to create a transferable platform for reference measurement procedures and materials for complex protein biomarkers. You will plan experiments, maintain high-quality and reproducible documentation, analyze and interpret quantitative data, prepare scientific publications and presentations, and contribute to method transfer, standard operating procedures and project reporting.

Research environment and collaboration

The position is embedded in the Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), and in the regional Expertise Center Clinical Chemistry Eindhoven. You will work closely with researchers and clinical chemists at TU/e, Catharina Hospital and Máxima Medical Center, and with diagnostic and technology partners including Roche Diagnostics and SISCAPA Assay Technologies. You will also collaborate with PhD students and supervise Master and Bachelor students.

Expected impact

Your work will advance metrologically traceable and comparable protein biomarker measurements, support harmonization of tumor-marker testing across clinical laboratories, and establish methods that can be extended to biomarkers beyond lung cancer.

Requirements

• A PhD in analytical chemistry, proteomics, biochemistry, chemical biology, clinical chemistry, biomedical engineering, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrable hands-on research experience in (targeted quantitative) proteomics, LC-MS/MS bioanalysis and/or quantitative protein biomarker analysis.
• Experience with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry and quantitative acquisition strategies such as MRM/SRM or PRM.
• Experience with protein and peptide sample preparation, enzymatic digestion, immunoaffinity enrichment and/or stable-isotope-labelled internal standards. Experience with SISCAPA, automated liquid handling, protein engineering or recombinant protein production is an advantage.
• Sound knowledge of analytical method development and validation, including calibration, sensitivity, selectivity, precision, accuracy, recovery, matrix effects, robustness, quality control and measurement uncertainty.
• Ability to conduct high-quality independent research, demonstrated through publications or other substantial research outputs.
• Strong quantitative and problem-solving skills, careful experimental practice.
• Ability to manage complex work packages, prioritize activities and deliver results on schedule.
• A collaborative and proactive working style, with the ability to communicate effectively across academic, clinical and industrial disciplines and to support junior researchers.
• Excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of Dutch is not required, but willingness to collaborate effectively with Dutch clinical and academic environments is expected.

Conditions of employment

Fixed-term contract: 2 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 2 years.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 10, ranging from € 4,422 (step 4) to € 5,760 gross base salary per month (full-time).
• In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
• Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.
• As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, and on-campus children's day care.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network, and offers tailored support, training and workshops.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) and a compensation for moving expenses.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

Employer

TU/e

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. Discover what Light Up means to TU/e in our short company video.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

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.

Additional information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Luc Brunsveld, Professor of Chemical Biology, l.brunsveld@tue.nl or +31 40 2472870.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HRServices.bme@tue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Working at TU/e

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