Doctoral scholarship holder cardiovascular disease

Departement: Genetica, Farmacologie en Fysiopathologie van Hart, Bloedvaten en Skelet
Regime Voltijds

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20 000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow’s world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The GENCOR Research Unit in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is looking for a full-time (100%)doctoral scholarship holder in the field of cardiovascular disease.

You will conduct translational research on the effect of (long-term) physical exercise on cardiac structure and function, both in humans and in a mouse model. More specifically, you will support the analysis of a clinical trial (Master@Heart, FWO-TBM project T003717N) that investigates the effects of long-term endurance exercise on the coronary and carotid arterial vasculature and on atrial and ventricular remodeling (including fibrosis) which may lead atrial fibrillation or ventricular arrhythmias. Non-athletic individuals are compared with life-long and late-onset endurance athletes. Moreover, you will study in an animal model whether athletic activity may exacerbate fibrotic remodelling in the setting of a virally-induced myocarditis in athletes. Using a murine coxsackie B virus myocarditis and exercise model, you will investigate the underlying pathological mechanisms using a variety of histopathological and molecular techniques.

Position

• You will work actively on the preparation of a PhD thesis in the research group of Cardiovascular Diseases https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/cardiovascular-diseases/) and Physiopharmacology (https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/fyfar/).
• You will publish scientific articles related to the research project.
• You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for the GENCOR Research Unit by means of mentoring master students during their thesis.
• You are willing to apply for an FWO doctoral fellowship to obtain external funding.

Profile

• You hold a Master degree in Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biomedical or Veterinary Sciences or equivalent, or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
• You can demonstrate excellent study results.
• You must hold a FELASA C certificate (or are willing to take a course to obtain it).
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• Your teaching (supervision of master thesis) competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• You have strong communication skills.
• You are fluent in academic English (speaking and writing).

What we offer

• We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed once for another two-year period.
• The planned start date is October 1st2021 or November 1st2021.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• 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 September 5th2021(by midnight Brussels time). Click on the ’Apply’ button, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: a motivation letter and your CV.
• The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. Please make a note of the following date: September 15th2021; 9.00-12.00 (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 job itself, please contact Dr. Hein Heidbuchel, 03/821.44.48, hein.heidbuchel@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.