PhD position in Improving immunity in neonatal piglets

Do you want to bridge the gap between fundamental immunology and practical applications in the swine industry? You will work as a PhD candidate on the project “Betere Afweer voor Betere biggEn” (BABE), which aims to improve the health and welfare of piglets. Newborn piglets are highly vulnerable; their survival, vitality and long-term health depend on the early development of their immune system.

Your job

This project combines fundamental and applied research to strengthen the immune competence of suckling piglets, focusing on two main pillars:

• optimising colostrum quality through maternal (sow) nutrition;
• evaluating early-life vaccination strategies.

As a PhD candidate, you will design and execute research involving both laboratory work and animal studies. Your work will include developing assays to characterize colostrum and milk composition, performing immunological assays, implementing nutritional and vaccination interventions, and conducting advanced data analysis.

Your main tasks include:

• Setting up and coordinating animal studies and sample collection.
• Developing and performing immunological assays in the lab.
• Processing and analyzing complex (omics) datasets.
• Writing scientific publications and presenting your results at (inter)national conferences.

This project is a public-private partnership and you will work in a multi-disciplinary team consisting of researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Utrecht University), division Farm Animal Health (Dr. Lindert Benedictus) and the division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology (Prof. Femke Broere), Wageningen BioVeterinary Research (Wageningen University & Research, Dr. Sandra Vreman and Prof. Annemarie Rebel), and two major industrial partners. Your primary workplace is at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht. You will also partly work at Wageningen BioVeterinary Research in Lelystad, and some project activities will take place at the industrial partners’ locations.

You will be enrolled in the Utrecht Graduate School of Life Sciences and receive training and guidance for your research and professional development, providing an excellent foundation for an independent academic career. As part of your PhD, there are also opportunities to co-supervise Master’s students and participate in teaching.

Your qualities

• You hold a Master’s degree in Life Sciences (e.g. Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Infection and Immunity).
• You have experience in, or a demonstrated interest in, immunology and at least one of the following areas: swine industry, nutrition, or data analysis.
• You communicate effectively in both written and spoken English and can act as a bridge between academic and commercial stakeholders.
• You are flexible and comfortable working in different locations and under varying conditions.
• You learn quickly and thrive in a multidisciplinary, multi-site research environment.
• You hold a valid Category B driver’s license, enabling you to travel to research sites.

Our offer

• A position for one year, with the possibility of extension to a total of four years based on a positive assessment (go/no-go decision after the first year).
• A permanent employment contract;
• A working week of 36 – 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 3.059 and €3.881 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;

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.

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.

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.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.

The application deadline is 27 May 2026. Interviews will take place at the end of June / beginning of July.

The application deadline is 27 May 2026.