Fixed-term

Why do people respond differently to harmful substances, and why are some individuals more sensitive to organ damage? This PhD project addresses these fundamental questions by investigating human toxicodynamic variability; the differences in how cells respond to chemical stress. These differences are partly driven by genetic variation, which influences cellular pathways involved in toxicity. Understanding this variation is essential for developing future safety testing strategies that reflect real human diversity. What you will do In this project, you will work with human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and primary cells derived from donors with different (genetic) backgrounds. By differentiating these stem cells into organ specific cell types and 3D organoids together with CRISPR technology, you will study how genetic variants shape cellular responses to chemical exposure. Combined with advanced detection tools that visualize cellular stress responses, this approach allows you to map how individual’s background translate into toxicodynamic variability. The project serves as a proof of concept for integrating human variability into next‑generation in vitro safety testing. The knowledge generated will contribute to more accurate risk estimation and support the development of chemical safety assessments that better reflect human diversity. What you bring MSc in (Bio)-pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences or Biology   Expertise in (human) induced pluripotent stem cell culture, 3D in vitro systems, molecular and cell biology, gene editing, microscopy, cell signaling Interest in bioinformatics Written and oral proficiency in English Excellent scientific writing skills Enthusiastic and ambitious Independent thinker Team player Where you will work Curiosity and passion for science are what connect our people: the desire to know, understand, interpret, explain and create. Our mission is to provide excellent teaching and research across the full breadth of the sciences, contributing to solutions for major societal challenges. Our eight institutes, ranging from mathematics, computer science, astronomy, physics, chemistry, and biopharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences, along with the Lorentz Center and the Hortus botanicus, form the backbone of our faculty and have a strong mutual interconnectedness.  We work in a safe, stimulating and international environment where people work and study with pleasure and passion, and where building connections and collaboration, both within and beyond the faculty, are a clear choice. The faculty has over 2,700 staff members and more than 6,000 students enrolled in nine bachelor’s and fifteen master’s programmes. We are located in the heart of the Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s largest science parks, where academia and industry meet.  For more information, see: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science What we offer We offer a full-time (1.0 FTE, 38 hours) 4-year term position. Salary range from € 3.059,- to € 3.881,- gross per month (PhD student, pay scale P) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. We aim to employ more women in areas where they are underrepresented. Women are therefore especially invited to apply. Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions All our PhD students are embedded in the Leiden University Graduate School of Science. Our graduate school offers several PhD training courses at three levels: professional courses, skills training and personal effectiveness. In addition, advanced courses to deepen scientific knowledge are offered by the research school. What we value Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. We strive to be an open community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to fully develop themselves. We consider an inclusive academic environment, where students and staff can share their experiences and viewpoints, to be essential for the development of talent. Want to apply or find out more? Enquiries can be made to Dr. Marije Niemeijer (m.c.niemeijer@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl; +31 71 5275919). If you have any questions about the procedure, please contact the secretariat of the Division of Cell Systems and Drug Safety, Marjolijn Lugthart (m.j.l.lugthart@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl; +31 71 5276270). Information about the faculty of science can be found at  http://www.science.leidenuniv.nl/index.php/english/ and about Leiden University at http://www.vacancies.leiden.edu/. To apply for this vacancy, please submit your application online via the blue button in our application system. Please ensure that you upload the following additional document quoting the vacancy number: Motivation letter Curriculum Vitae The transcripts of your BSc and MSc studies to date A copy of your (draft) Master’s thesis Preferably 2 reference letters Only applications received before 21 August 2026 can be considered. Starting date: fall 2026, flexible. Apply Now

Chemical modifications of histones and DNA provide an important regulatory layer for gene expression control and numerous other processes in the cell. In this context, individual and combinatorial modifications guide spatiotemporal recruitment of regulatory factors to specific regions in the genome. Despite many efforts to characterise chromatin-mediated regulation of gene activity, the direct involvement of chromatin marks in instructing transcriptional outcomes remains unclear and requires further investigation. Your job This project aims to bridge chromatin engineering and epigenomics to study epigenetic regulation of transcriptional processes. Potential approaches will involve manipulation of epigenetic marks in embryonic stem cells, investigating changes in epigenetic landscapes and transcription upon controlled manipulation, and/or engineering of synthetic chromatin states. You are encouraged to bring in your individual ideas and expertise to the current project and furthermore to develop new project ideas. Your qualities You are dedicated scientist with a background in chromatin biology and/or gene regulation and experience in cell engineering, molecular cloning, genomics, and computational data analysis workflows. In addition you: have obtained, or are on track to obtain, a PhD with first or co-author publications/preprints in the respective field; you are able to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team; demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills in English. Our offer an independent postdoc position for initially one year (1.0 FTE), with an extension of two years upon a positive evaluation; a gross monthly salary, depending on experience and qualifications, between € 3.546 and €5.538 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)); 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus; a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU. In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University. About us A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow. Working at the Faculty of Science  external link  means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn and discover how you can become part of our community. The Genome Biology & Epigenetics (GBE)  external link  is embedded within the Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity  external link , part of the Department of Biology  external link .  An inspiring and highly interactive scientific environment covering various disciplines ranging from Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Neurobiology, Biophysics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. As part of this institute, the groups at the GBE aim to decipher how genetic and epigenetic information is processed into different gene expression programs. The Baubec lab  external link  takes a systems biology approach to understand the role of modifications on histones and DNA. Towards this, we combine various experimental and computational strategies, including genome and epigenome engineering, genome-wide studies, proteomics, single-cell measurements, and computational modelling. We use mouse embryonic stem cells and their differentiation to neuronal and haematopoietic cells as our main model system. This integrative approach allows us to understand gene regulatory mechanisms in a quantitative and functional manner. More information about the research in the group can be found here on our website  external link . More information For more information, please contact Tuncay Baubec  external link  at t.baubec@uu.nl. Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.  Apply now As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute. A knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. If you are enthusiastic about this position, just apply via the “Apply now” button! Please enclose: your letter of motivation; your Curriculum vitae; the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two references. If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

Job description  Imagine watching the inner workings of a living cell, where the fundamental laws of physics meet the complexity of life at the nanoscale. Since 2010, the Department of Bionanoscience at Delft University of Technology has been on a pioneering quest to decode these principles. We are a multidisciplinary and international community of scientists driven by a singular mission: to understand how interactions at the smallest scales give rise to biological function or the onset of disease. From observing the dance of single molecules to the bottom-up construction of synthetic cells, we bridge the gap between physics and the full complexity of living systems. Now, we invite you to join our group of 19 Principal Investigators at TU Delft to help us write the next chapter in our understanding of Life. The Department of Bionanoscience, part of the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, is a world-leading environment for fundamental research at the interface of biology and physics. We focus on biological processes from the level of single molecules to the full complexity of living cells. We seek an early career Principal Investigator who has demonstrated excellence in experimental research and thrives on conducting original research with impact, geared to understanding how life works, either at the molecular or cellular level. We encourage applications from researchers with a biophysics-oriented perspective or approach. Harnessing your communication skills, you inspire and convince funding agencies and partners of your vision and research. You actively seek collaboration with relevant faculties, universities and external stakeholders. In addition, you enjoy mentoring, teaching and interacting with students, while continuously developing yourself and your academic career. Your research will benefit from our in-house facilities, including a central optical microscopy, a cell culture, a protein purification, a cryo-EM, mass spectrometry, flowcytometry, and the Kavli Nanolab Delft cleanroom. Our laboratory space is located in a modern building with dedicated lab areas for building and operating sensitive physical instrumentation. As a Principal Investigator, you will: Establish an independent experimental research line that is complementary to our current strengths in single-molecule biophysics, synthetic biology, and quantitative cell biology. Secure external funding through competitive grants (e.g., NWO Vidi, ERC StG) to build and lead a team of PhD students, Postdocs and Technicians. Provide excellent education by teaching and developing courses for our unique BSc and MSc programs in Nanobiology; a program at the interface of biology, physics and math. Contribute to a collaborative culture, interacting synergistically with existing research groups and participating in the management of the department and our educational program(s). Job requirements  The ideal candidate is a creative experimentalist who thrives on scientific and engineering challenges. You should possess: A PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Biophysics, Biochemistry, Cell biology, Bionanotechnology) and relevant post-doctoral experience. An outstanding scientific track record, evidenced by high-quality publications. A clear vision for a new, independent experimental research line that uses advanced methodology to probe, manipulate or engineer cellular life or its components. A passion for education and the ability to inspire students in an international environment. Obtain the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within three years.  TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)  Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.  For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.  These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.  At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.  Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.  Faculty Applied Sciences  With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor’s and specialist Master’s programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.  Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.  Conditions of employment This position is offered as an Academic Career Track position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE). During the Academic Career Track, we expect you to grow towards an Associate Professor position within a maximum of eight years, for which a position will be available. With other Academic Career Track colleagues, you will participate in the Academic Career Track Development programme, where you are offered ample opportunities to develop yourself in the areas of Education, Research, Societal Impact & Innovation, and Leadership & Organisation. You will regularly discuss your development and results with senior staff based on a personalized development plan and performance criteria agreed upon at the start of your Academic Career Track. You will start with a temporary contract that will be converted to a permanent contract no later than 12 -18 months after a positive evaluation, based on continuous confidence in your development potential and fit in the organisation.  Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. We expect you to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within three years if you have less than five years of teaching experience. This is provided by the TU Delft UTQ programme as

Job description ‘Cultivated meat’, the production of genuine meat products from in vitro culture of animal cells, is an emerging biotechnology within the field of cellular agriculture with the potential to revolutionise food production from both an environmental and ethical perspective. Unfortunately, mammalian cells in their unmodified state have severe limitations with respect to in vitro culture, presenting major challenges for the scalability and cost-effectiveness of cultivated meat bioprocesses. These include slow proliferation, expensive medium requirements and suboptimal metabolic efficiency. Metabolic engineering, the controlled reprogramming of metabolism through the modification of existing pathways, and the addition of new ones, offers a potential solution! We are hiring for a PhD student to join the group for a fully-funded project of 4 years. Within the Flack group, you will develop tools and methods for metabolic engineering of bovine satellite cell lines, and use these to introduce new and improved metabolic phenotypes relating to (for example) efficiency of carbon-substrate utilization and de novo synthesis of currently essential, expensive medium components. Within the broad scope of metabolic engineering for cultivated meat, there will be freedom to direct your own research projects, and to become acquainted with new techniques and approaches. There will be opportunities to supervise MSc and BSc students in the group. Advice and discussion will be available for candidates interested in both academic and industry careers. We are a friendly, collaborative group and are looking for a highly motivated student with strong scientific communication skills. You will be joining a dynamic department with broad interests in biotechnology and synthetic biology across all domains of life. The research is funded as part of the Cellular Agriculture Netherlands Open Calls Programme, and will involve collaboration and coordination with various industrial parties and external experts For more information, please refer to the Flack Group website and/or get in touch.  Job requirements  The ideal candidate will be an ambitious, proactive, reflective, and results-driven researcher. We are looking for the following: MSc degree in a relevant field, such as cell biology, biotechnology or a related field of biological sciences (essential). Prior lab experience in molecular biology, cloning and genetic manipulation (essential). Prior experience with gene editing and/or cell engineering (e.g. CRISPR/Cas or related techniques – highly desirable). Prior experience with animal cell culture (desirable but not required). A strong interest in both metabolism and cellular agriculture/cultivated meat is essential, although specific prior experience in these areas is not expected or required. Strong collaboration, communication and writing skills.  TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)  Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.  For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.  These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.  At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.  Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.  Faculty Applied Sciences  With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor’s and specialist Master’s programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.  Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.  Conditions of employment  Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.  Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 – €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.   As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.  The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.   Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.   Additional information For more information about this vacancy or our research group, please contact Dr. Joshua Flack (J.E.Flack@tudelft.nl). PhD position is envisaged to start at the end of 2026 or January 2027. Application procedure Are