Joint PhD candidate in the laboratories of Sarah Weckhuysen and Kristel Sleegers

The Weckhuysen team and the Sleegers team at the VIB-UAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology, Belgium are seeking a highly motivated PhD student as part of a joint project focused on biomarker discovery in neurological disorders. The Weckhuysen and Sleegers labs perform leading-edge research discovering risk genes and analyzing molecular mechanisms in intractable epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease, respectively, using next-generation genetics technologies.

Early-onset epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are both frequent and debilitating conditions that profoundly impact patients’ lives. Early-onset epilepsy can be treatment-resistant and is often accompanied by developmental and neuropsychiatric problems. AD leads to a progressive decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills; it is the most common cause of dementia. For both epilepsy and AD, molecular diagnosis can be challenging due to the inaccessibility of the brain in most individuals. As such, there is an urgent need to identify reliable biomarkers from non-invasive sources to enable more accurate or earlier diagnosis.

This collaborative PhD project, co-hosted by the Weckhuysen and Sleegers labs, focuses on discovering biomarkers in epilepsy and AD using innovative laboratory and computational approaches. Samples from individuals with epilepsy, AD, and unaffected controls (including blood/serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and, where possible, brain tissue) will be analyzed. In this project, three complementary strategies will be explored. (1) We will analyze cell-free DNA (cfDNA), fragmented DNA released from dying cells. This cfDNA can contain mutations or chemical modifications (methylation) associated with specific disease mechanisms. (2) We will analyze extracellular RNA (exRNA), which provides an extra kinetic layer that can indicate a specific pathology. And (3), we will isolate and analyze extracellular vesicles (EVs), membranous particles secreted from cells that can contain protein, RNA, or DNA. The contents of these EVs can be investigated for cell-type specific biomarkers.

We seek a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and creative individual to join our team. The candidate should be interested in bioinformatics, biostatistics, and genetics.

Essential

• Master’s Degree in biochemistry, biomedical sciences, bioinformatics, (bio)statistics, bioengineering, computer science, related disciplines or equivalent through experience
• Proficient in verbal and written English.
• Ability to summarize data extracted from literature and to define research objectives.
• Passionate for science, critical thinking, self-motivated, flexible, and enjoys working in a team

Desirable but not required

• Hands-on laboratory experience with techniques such as next-generation sequencing, RT-qPCR, and nucleic acid extractions
• Programming experience, preferably in Python or R, and experience in the Linux environment
• Experience with large-scale data analysis, such as genomics or transcriptomics data
• Experience with a workflow management system such as Snakemake or Nextflow
• A willingness to learn and apply machine learning approaches

• A doctoral scholarship for a period of one year, with the possibility of renewal for a further three-year period after positive evaluations. During the doctoral scholarship, you will be encouraged to obtain a personal fellowship (e.g. national funding organization FWO). Please check the eligibility criteria before applying for this position.
• A versatile and challenging job in a vibrant world-class research environment operating at an international level
• State-of-the-art research facilities
• A dedicated training program to broaden your expertise and enhance your skill set

Starting date: as soon as possible but can be discussed

Submit your application through the VIB online application tool.  Be sure to include:

• a detailed CV incl. a list of previous experience
• a letter of motivation explaining why you are interested in our work and aspire this PhD position
• the names and contact details of 3 references

For more information, please contact:

For more information about our research center: