PhD Studentship in Biochemistry at Department of Microbial Physiology, University of Groningen
Job descriptionThe University of Groningen as Partner of the Top-Institute Pharma (The Netherlands) offers a PhD position in the Department of Analytical Biochemistry to work on a project entitled:
Acute and chronic inflammatory responses induced by smoking in individuals being susceptible and non-susceptible for development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): from specific disease phenotyping towards novel tailor-made therapy
This PhD position is embedded within a larger collaborative project between academic institutes and the pharmaceutical industry within the framework of a nationally funded centre of excellence the Top Institute Pharma (www.tipharma.nl). The PhD project will focus on developing novel methodologies to study the proteome of human biological samples with relevance to COPD, such as induced sputum, epithelial cells obtained by bronchial brushing and tissue biopsies. Special attention will be paid to sample preparation and the high efficiency separation of proteins and peptides by nano-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry using state-of-the-art equipment (e.g. chipLC-Q-TOF-MS, nanoLC-Orbitrap-MS). The project will be executed in close collaboration with the Groningen Research Institute of Asthma and COPD (Prof. Dr. Dirkje Postma; www.graduateschoolguide.nl/html/research/institutes/griac/home.htm).
The successful candidate will work in a team of analytical chemistry and clinical research groups. The Department of Analytical Biochemistry (www.biomac.nl) has extensive experience in proteomics and its application to biomarker discovery. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with the other partner groups in this project (Altana, GSK, University Medical Centers in Groningen and Utrecht).
Requirements:
- Strong background in protein and peptide analysis with a focus on HPLC and mass spectrometry.
- Experience with bioinformatics related to proteomics would be a significant advantage.
- Interested to perform research in a unique interdisciplinary biomedical environment.
- strong communication skills
- ambitious
- creative
