PhD position in a novel cell secretome-based therapeutics for osteoarthritis

This PhD project will tackle key challenges in developing new therapies based on Extracellular Vesicles(EV)-enriched scretomes. The aim of the research is to develop innovative technologies that can be used to monitor batch-to-batch consistency of EV-based therapeutics, decipher EV- molecular cargo - functional relationships, and identify disease-related signatures in blood and synovial fluid from patients with osteoarthritis. Overall, the project aims to provide new insights and tools for the development of safe, effective, and consistent EV-based therapies.

In this project hands-on analytical wet-lab experiments, including cell biological analyses, multi-omics mass spectrometry and nanoparticle analyses of EV samples, production batches and patients samples, as well as computational methods including AI-enhanced analyses are equally important. Throughout the project, you will develop core skills in fundamental cell biology and metabolism research, in mass spectrometry and integrated multi-omics analysis, and gain insights in the mechanism of action of EV-enriched cell secretome therapy in osteoarthritis. As part of an EU-funded RIA project in a 10-partner consortium including industry partnerships, you will collaborate with partner institutes in The Netherlands and abroad, and secondments are possible.

Assistant Professor in Immune-Tumor Cell Communication

Assistant Professor in Immune-Tumor Cell Communication

The Division of Cell Biology, Metabolism, & Cancer (CMC) is seeking an ambitious and collaborative cell biologist to establish an innovative, independent research line at the interface of intercellular communication and cancer immunology, and to contribute to teaching in cell biology. We are particularly interested in a researcher who will build strong interdisciplinary collaborations with clinical researchers and partners across Utrecht Science Park, and is keen to translate fundamental discoveries into biomedical impact.

The research of CMC aims to unravel mechanisms of intra- and extracellular communication of animal cells. This knowledge is used to prevent or to develop better treatments for non-communicable diseases such as cancer in veterinary and human patients. You will be embedded within the Cell Biology research group, which has an excellent track record in cell-derived extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated communication.

As an Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator you will develop and lead an independent innovative research line focused on communication between tumor cells and immune cells, that complements and strengthens CMC’s scientific portfolio while fostering collaboration across veterinary and human clinical research groups. You will secure research funding, build and maintain strategic collaborations with academic, clinical and industrial partners, and supervise PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and technical staff.

You will contribute to Cell Biology teaching within the Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences curricula. You should hold a University Teaching Qualification (BKO) or be willing to obtain this qualification during the first two years of appointment. Teaching tasks include lecturing, supervising practical courses, supervision of BSc and MSc students, as well as participation in course development. Teaching responsibilities will account for approximately 0.3 FTE, with the highest involvement during periods when courses are scheduled. Since most teaching is in Dutch, candidates not yet proficient in Dutch are expected to be willing to learn the language (support for this can be provided).

Temporary Equine Veterinarian / Reproduction Specialist

As a veterinarian, you will join our dedicated equine reproduction team, which consists of five veterinarians (one ACT diplomate, three ECAR diplomates and one intern), three clinical assistants, three laboratory assistants, a secretary and a group of dedicated researchers.

Our team provides diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of reproductive conditions in mares and stallions. We offer a broad range of assisted reproductive technologies as clinical services, including embryo transfer and ovum pick-up (OPU).

During the breeding season, we inseminate approximately 300 mares, perform around 150 embryo flushes, and transfer approximately 850 embryos, including embryos produced through ICSI and subsequent freezing and thawing.

You must be able to work independently and have solid experience with all of the below described clinical activities, including:

• routine reproductive management of donor and recipient mares;
• monitoring and breeding management of mares inseminated with frozen semen;
• embryo flushing and transfer procedures;

The position also includes participation in out-of-hours duties, including routine weekend work (approximately 1 in 3 weekends) and assisting with obstetrical emergencies.

Temporary Equine Veterinarian / Reproduction Specialist

As a veterinarian, you will join our dedicated equine reproduction team, which consists of five veterinarians (one ACT diplomate, three ECAR diplomates and one intern), three clinical assistants, three laboratory assistants, a secretary and a group of dedicated researchers.

Our team provides diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of reproductive conditions in mares and stallions. We offer a broad range of assisted reproductive technologies as clinical services, including embryo transfer and ovum pick-up (OPU).

During the breeding season, we inseminate approximately 300 mares, perform around 150 embryo flushes, and transfer approximately 850 embryos, including embryos produced through ICSI and subsequent freezing and thawing.

You must be able to work independently and have solid experience with all of the below described clinical activities, including:

• routine reproductive management of donor and recipient mares;
• monitoring and breeding management of mares inseminated with frozen semen;
• embryo flushing and transfer procedures;

The position also includes participation in out-of-hours duties, including routine weekend work (approximately 1 in 3 weekends) and assisting with obstetrical emergencies.

Finding the environmental causes of childhood and early-onset cancer (CUE-CAN)

Where you’ll work

You’ll join the Molecular Epidemiology and Data Science group at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) of Utrecht University, where Dr. Martijn Kolijn leads the cancer projects. The group is part of the One Health Chemical research line of Prof. Roel Vermeulen, where epidemiologists, exposure scientists and data scientists study how chemicals and other environmental factors affect health. You’ll be based at the Utrecht Science Park.

Your project
Within CUE-CAN, the Utrecht team leads the search for new carcinogens. Your focus is on the internal exposome. You'll analyse untargeted liquid and gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS and GC-HRMS) data from 4,000 maternal blood samples collected during pregnancy, covering children who later developed leukaemia, lymphoma or tumours of the central nervous system, plus healthy controls. Together, these methods measure around 700 exogenous chemicals, including environmental pollutants such as PFAS, and give a broad picture of endogenous molecules, so you can also study how exposures interact with biological processes in the body. The HRMS data are generated by others, so your work is the analysis, not the lab. A postdoc in our team maps the external exposome (geospatial, environmental and occupational exposures). You'll work closely with them to connect what you find in blood with what mothers were exposed to.

What you’ll do
You will:

• Analyse the LC-HRMS and GC-HRMS data to find chemicals in maternal blood linked to childhood and early-onset cancer;
• Use statistical and machine-learning methods, including mixture models, to identify and validate environmental risk factors;
• Link high-resolution exposure maps (from projects such as EXPANSE and EXPOSOME-NL) to study participants and to large Dutch registry cohorts (CBS, IKNL);
• Combine internal (blood-based) and external (environmental) exposome data to build a fuller picture of how the environment contributes to cancer;
• Work with PhD students and postdocs across CUE-CAN, including researchers at the Princess Máxima Center who will test your candidate carcinogens in the lab;
• Publish your results and present them at international conferences.