PhD Position in AI in Microbiology

The lab of Jeroen Raes (VIB, KU Leuven) is home to a vibrant, dynamic and international group of researchers in the field of gut microbial ecology and its clinical applications. In addition to our expertise in metagenomic analysis and clinical experience, the lab also boasts state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to the cultivation and analysis of colon bacteria. This infrastructure has become increasingly essential in the field of microbiome research, enabling the elucidation of mechanistic insights from microbial interactions at the functional level. The Raes lab is also part of both the VIB Center for Microbiology and VIB.AI, creating a unique interdisciplinary environment for this research project.

This position offers the opportunity to lead a cutting-edge project at the intersection of microbiology and laboratory automation. We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate with a strong engineering mindset and a keen interest in AI, automation and microbiology. Prior experience in these fields is not required, what we are looking for is a strong motivation to learn, adapt, and apply these technologies to advance microbiome research. 

We are looking for a driven and creative PhD researcher who is passionate about developing automated systems for microbiological research. The ideal candidate has:

• An MSc degree in bioengineering, biotechnology, microbiology, computer science, mechanical/electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Strong interest in automation and laboratory robotics.
• Basic experience in wet-lab microbiology techniques.
• Willingness to learn programming and computational analysis for automation (previous experience is not required but beneficial).
• A proactive and independent work ethic.
• Excellent proficiency in English (both written and spoken).

• Develop and implement automation strategies for microbiological research.
• Use AI (expert support available) to mine results, identify leads and build hypotheses.
• Collaborate closely with engineers, biologists, and data scientists to develop and optimize experimental pipelines.
• Gain experience in both wet-lab and computational techniques to tackle some of the most important questions in microbiome science.
• Independently drive research projects while working as part of a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary team.

We value diversity in skill sets and encourage applicants with a keen interest in contributing to groundbreaking research at the intersection of microbiome science and human health. We look for applicants with an excellent academic track record and strong scientific drive. We provide a stimulating and supportive environment to help you continue pursuing your scientific career. More info: http://www.raeslab.org

VIB-KU Leuven is an exciting, interdisciplinary research institute with excellent facilities and leading research groups in e.g. gastroenterology, oncology, immunology, microbiology & virology, clinical genetics/-omics, molecular biology and translational research.  The Raes lab has a long track record in microbiota research and prides itself on excellent publication records for a majority of lab members.
We are located on the Gasthuisberg Hospital campus of the KU Leuven (Fac. of Medicine) and has on-site robotic sample processing, high-throughput computing resources as well as next-generation sequencing and anaerobic microbiology facilities.
You can build upon significant lab resources as well as guidance from a multidisciplinary team of students and postdocs. Interested? Check out our laboratory and publications on www.raeslab.org and/or https://scholar.google.com/cit...

Interested candidates should apply online. Additional requirements: 

• Curriculum vitae
• A letter stating your motivation for the current position.
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma
• The contact details of two references of people you collaborated with professionally in the past 12 months. 

Our institute greatly values diverse standpoints and promotes an inclusive environment in which everyone is respected.