Employer: VIB
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Closing Date: 10 November 2025
Discipline: Life Science
Job Type: PhD Position
Employment Hours: Full time
Duration: Permanent
Qualification Required: Professional certification or relevant MSc/medical degree
Sector: Academia
Applications are invited for a full-time PhD position to investigate the clinical-translational neuroimmunology of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The research will be conducted within the Gut-Immune-Brain Axis Lab (Prof. Seppe De Schepper, VIB–UAntwerp) in close collaboration with the Parkinson’s Disease Research Team (Prof. David Crosiers, Translational Neurosciences Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp; and Department of Neurology, UZA).
The project is designed to map how peripheral and circulating immune cells reflect early PD biology, focusing on high-risk individuals and patients. Circulating immune signatures that anticipate disease onset and progression are to be identified using cutting-edge single-cell and immune-profiling approaches linked to clinical phenotyping. Nature Careers
Responsibilities of the Position
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Coordination of patient cohorts with the clinical team, processing of samples, immune profiling, and data interpretation are to be undertaken.
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Results are to be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences.
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Limited teaching or service tasks are to be performed while contributing to open, reproducible science practices.
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During the doctoral scholarship, an innovative project must be submitted to the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) to obtain a personal fellowship. Applicants should verify eligibility before applying.
Candidate Profile
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A medical degree or MSc in biomedical sciences, medicine, bioengineering, or a related field with excellent academic results is required.
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Strong interest in immunology and neurodegeneration is expected; experience with human samples or immunophenotyping tools (e.g., flow cytometry) is advantageous.
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Comfort in working at the clinic–lab interface and excellent English communication skills are required (Dutch is considered an asset for patient-facing coordination).
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Motivation to work within an international European project, including possible travel, is expected.
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Proactivity, rigor, solution-oriented thinking, creativity, integrity, and strong cooperation skills are essential.
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Teaching and research qualities must align with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision and VIB policies.
What Is Offered
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A doctoral scholarship for an initial period of one year will be provided, with renewal following a positive evaluation.
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Full assistance will be given in applying for personal fellowships (e.g., FWO).
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Access to state-of-the-art facilities and training in advanced techniques will be ensured.
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Career development opportunities, networking, and mentorship will be supported.
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Funding for presenting at international conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals will be available.
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A competitive stipend and benefits package will be offered in line with VIB guidelines.
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The position is to begin as soon as possible.
Application Process
Applications are to be submitted through the VIB online application tool and must include:
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A cover letter describing research interests, experience, and motivation.
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A curriculum vitae with a list of publications.
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Contact information for two references.
Further information about the research center can be found at https://cmn.sites.vib.be/en, and details about the collaborating teams are available at https://deschepperlab.sites.vib.be/en.
