05 Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Antwerp, Belgium

Over the last decade, organoids emerged as an attractive middle ground between 2D cell cultures, which do not fully recapitulate the 3D environment and animal models, which pose technical and ethical limits. In particular, cerebral organoids are emerging as the next step in patient-derived in vitro models for both neurodevelopmental as well as neurodegenerative diseases. However, cerebral organoids have mostly been based on neuronal cells alone, while evidence increases that the role of non-neuronal types (microglia, astrocytes, endothelial cells) is critical in these conditions. Integration of these cell types will more closely mimic the in vivo cellular environment in health and disease and constitutes the major challenge of this project. The established neuroimmune organoid technology will find a wide range of applications as models for studying fundamental mechanisms underlying cellular biology and genetic pathophysiology as well as for efficient drug screening. The recruited postdoc would lead on this challenge and would be offered an opportunity to shape the application scope of the developed technology to advance the science of all research groups at the Center.

• Your main task will consist of supporting the development of Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment (IATAs) for thyroid hormone system disruption (THSD) in the context of the European PARC project (Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals, https://www.eu-parc.eu), aimed at protecting both human health and the environment. This involves organizing, evaluating and integrating in silico, in vitro and in vivo methods for assessing THSD properties of chemicals using adverse outcome pathway (AOP)-based approaches in a way that allows addressing specific regulatory questions. Tasks include, amongst others, setting up and performing dedicated case studies to demonstrate regulatory relavance, AOP development for supporting the IATAs, performing literature searches, and writing reports and review papers.
• The amount of personal lab work will be very limited. You will occasionally assist in the supervision of PhD and master thesis students who are working in these areas.
• You will help writing new project proposals and contribute to attracting external funding.
• You will participate in the general management and maintenance of the lab, and fish housekeeping duties including weekend duty.

Als postdoctoraal medewerker maak je deel uit van het Bijzonder Academisch Personeel (BAP). De functie kadert binnen de samenwerking tussen het Urban Studies Institute en het Centrum voor Stadsgeschiedenis, met het oog op de versterking en verbinding van onderwijs, onderzoek en dienstverlening van beide centra.

The Department of Biochemical Engineering of the Faculty of Applied Engineering Sciences is looking for a  full-time  (100%) senior researcher in Industrial Biotechnology.  Industrial Biotechnology is the use of microorganisms or enzymes for the production of chemicals.

• You will carry out high-quality academic research in algebraic geometry and/or related areas. The position is part of an FWO founded project entitled “New birational invariants and the geometry of moduli spaces”.
• You will report on the results of your research and produce academic publications.
• You will take part in the organisation of research events and activities.
• You will contribute to the development of the research group.
• There are no a priori teaching obligations with the position, yet the flexible expectation is that you help as a TA or instructor with one course per year (=2 hour/week one semester per year).
• You will have the opportunity (if you want) to teach your own course and/or supervise bachelor and master thesis.