Postdoctoral scholarship holder to develop an LC-HRMS platform for metabolomics in human matrices

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Departement: Departement Farmaceutische Wetenschappen
Regime Voltijds

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The Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences of the University of Antwerp is looking for a full-time(100%) postdoctoral scholarship holdertodevelop an LC-HRMS platform for metabolomics in human matrices.

The project will be executed at the Toxicological Centre (TC) of the University of Antwerp, which has extensive analytical expertise and instrumental capabilities related to human exposure assessment and environmental and analytical toxicology. The TC has also developed in-house untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics analytical platforms based on liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) for the analysis of different biological matrices, such as cell extracts and animal tissues.

However, there is a urgent need to evaluate and refine these platforms for the analysis of human biological fluids, such as blood and urine. To deal with the heterogeneity in the cellular and molecular responses due to individual differences and co-morbidities, innovative biomarkers with predictive value are needed to allow determining subtypes of clinically similar patients. As a potential future complementary diagnostic tool for critical illness, this post-doctoral position aims at determining the diagnostic power of metabolomics to detect the molecular fingerprint and tissue specific cell death, by using untargeted and targeted metabolomics (LC-HRMS and GC-HRMS) and big data mining approaches in well-characterized phenotypically patients.

Position

• To develop and optimize sample preparation procedures for blood and urine to ensure a wide coverage of the metabolome in these complex matrices.
• To tailor the current untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics platforms based on LC-QTOF-MS for the specific needs and characteristics of these matrices.
• To investigate the usefulness of including additional separation dimensions, such as 2D-LC or ion mobility in the acquisition of data of higher quality.
• To refine the current data processing and metabolite annotation workflows using vendor and open access software tools for the specific needs of the human metabolome and lipidome.
• To propose a set of QA/QC measures and criteria for the data acquisition and data analysis workflows to ensure the production of high-quality data.

The outcomes of this project would be to establish an untargeted metabolomics/lipidomics platform at UAntwerpen for human biological fluids, to determine the diagnostic power of metabolomics/lipidomics to detect tissue-specific cell death, and to establish the molecular fingerprint of critically illness determined in biofluids.

Profile

• You hold a PhD in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical or environmental sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related area, obtained after 1 January 2020.
• You have experience and solid knowledge with the handling and use of LC coupled to HRMS and the preparation of biological samples (biofluids, tissues, and/or cells) for MS-based metabolomics.
• You have experience in bioinformatics to process HRMS data for statistical analyses and biomarker discovery.
• You possess excellent English communication skills, both written and oral.
• You are available to work full time, with high motivation, good planning, communication, and organizational skills.
• You are able to work effectively both independently and in team, as part of a multidisciplinary, international, and multicultural team; you can manage conflicting demands and meet deadlines.
• You commit, upon acceptance of the mandate, to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship at a subsequent FWO post-doc call (Dec 2023 or Dec 2024) and/or Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) post-doc call (Sept 2024), with the University of Antwerp as host institution.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.

What we offer

• Scientific development opportunities in an international cooperative, interdisciplinary research environment and an excellent working atmosphere in a very dynamic, international and professional team
• Extensive state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure
• The opportunity to present your data on international conferences and participate in workshops.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for postdoctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• You will receive ecocheques and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• You will do most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 31 August 2023(by midnight Brussels time). Click on the ’Apply’ button, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: a 1-page motivation letter and your CV.
• The selection committee will review all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview in September 2023 and will be asked to prepare a short (1-page) project proposal to be discussed during the interview.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the project, please contact: Prof. Dr. Adrian Covaci (adrian.covaci@uantwerpen.be) or Prof. Alexander van Nuijs (alexander.vannuijs@uantwerpen.be).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’sHR Excellence in Research Awardfor its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encouragediversityand attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.