For a European Research Council (ERC)-Advanced Grant funded project, we are looking for two highly motivated PhD candidates to dissect the role of the piRNA pathway in antiviral defense. Moreover, we are interested in exploring whether the piRNA pathway can be harnessed for practical applications. Are you the PhD candidate with hands-on experience with a range of molecular biology / cell biological techniques we are looking for?

Aedes mosquitoes transmit important human pathogenic viruses, like Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya virus as well as a diverse set of insect-specific viruses. These viruses need to overcome the mosquito immune response to ensure their transmission. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of regulatory RNA molecules that are essential for life. The PIWI gene family is a rapidly evolving gene family that has greatly expanded in Aedes mosquitoes, suggesting new functions compared to animals with a more restricted set of PIWI genes. The piRNA pathway has been implicated in antiviral defense and control of transposable elements in mosquitoes, but its in vivo importance remains to be established. 

You are a motivated candidate with the ambition to do fundamental scientific research. You have a recent MSc degree in molecular life sciences, molecular cell biology, or an equivalent study and hands-on experience with a range of molecular biology techniques. For one of the projects, experience with analyses of next-generation sequencing data is highly recommended. Prior training or experience working with viruses is preferred but not required. You are willing to work with mosquitoes in a biosafety level-3 environment. You posses excellent communication skills and good command of spoken and written English.

You will work in the Laboratory of Experimental Virology in the department of Medical Microbiology of Radboud University Medical Center under supervision of Prof. Ronald van Rij. The laboratory is affiliated with the Research Institute for Medical Innovation (RIMI), which provides an excellent environment for innovative science and offers access to state-of-the-art core facilities, including cellular imaging, proteomics, and genomics. 

As a PhD student, you will be enrolled in the RIMI PhD program, offering advanced training through courses, lecture series, and symposia.The project is part of a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant-funded project, which involves multiple PhD students/postdocs working on complimentary projects. We are dedicated to provide a social, dynamic, and stimulating work environment. Please visit Van Rij Lab for more information.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare. 

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• Upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€ 3.017 based on a full-time appointment). Over a maximum period of 4 years, you will progress to scale 10A, step 3 (€3.824 based on a full-time appointment). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a 47% to 72% bonus for working unsocial hours.
• 172 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. (As of 1 January 2025, you will receive 176 vacation hours).

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then send an email to Prof. Ronald van Rij. Use the Apply button to submit your application. Along with your motivation letter and cv, please send contact information of at least two scientific references and a list of grades obtained during your BSc and MSc studies.