Description
We are seeking a motivated new PhD candidate or Postdoctoral fellow who wants to join an exciting collaborative research program within the VIB-Center for Inflammation Research between the Guilliams and the Saelens team.
Research Project
In this research project you will apply in vivo CRISPR screens to study the functional specialization of liver macrophages. This project is supported by an ERC Advanced Grant (2025 – 2030). We have developed in vivo single-cell CRISPR technologies to screen for dozens of molecular factors in liver macrophages in vivo. We will apply these technologies to unravel the causal circuits driving the development and the functional specialisation of the largest macrophage population in the body: the liver-resident Kupffer cells. You will next develop Spatial CRISPR screens in which you will study the effect of macrophage perturbations on the neighbouring stromal cells and endothelial cells. These technologies are a game-changer in the speed, scale and resolution in which in vivo pathways of macrophage activation and the cross-talk with the cells representing their niche can be unravelled. As the liver is the largest solid organ in the body contain more than 1 million Kupffer cells per mouse, this will allow to decode the causal circuits controlling Kupffer cell activation and their relationship to hepatic stromal cells and endothelial cells at unprecedented speed through iterative CRISPR screens.
You will be embedded in a close-knit team composed of biomedical experts, technologists and computational experts, providing a unique atmosphere where the discovery of novel mechanistic insights is gained through the application of novel probabilistic deep-learning models that automatically extract biological and statistical knowledge from your in vivo perturbational omics data.
This interdisciplinary atmosphere has been a main catalyst for many past successes: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/35021063, https://europepmc.org/article/MED/31819264, https://europepmc.org/article/MED/31561945, https://europepmc.org/article/MED/39747019
Profile
- Master’s in bio-engineering, medicine, molecular biology, immunology, or related
- FELASA certification
- Experience in either immunology or hepatology. Strong interest in both.
- Excellent communication skills and fluency in English.
- A collaborative mindset and enthusiasm to work in an international and interdisciplinary environment
Bonus but not required
- Experience with highly multiplexed flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.
- Experience in single-cell or spatial muli-omics.
What we offer
- Embedding within a team containing both wetlab experts and computational experts, with extensive experience in single-cell and spatial multi-omics and in vivo CRISPR screens.
- Access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and core facilities in a vibrant, world-class research environment operating at an international level
- Dedicated training programs available through VIB and Ghent University to broaden your expertise and enhance your skillset
- A strong network of international collaborators
- Competitive salary and full benefits.
Want to apply?
Interested candidates are invited to apply online. Please use the VIB application tool to submit your application.
- Motivation letter of 1-1.5 pages.
- Curriculum vitae
- University degree certificates
For more information, you are welcome to contact Prof. Martin Guilliams (martin.guilliams@ugent.be) or Prof. Wouter Saelens (wouter.saelens@ugent.be)
Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive, respectful, and collaborative environment where everyone can thrive. We value diversity in all its forms - including but not limited to gender identity, ethnicity, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic background, and family situation. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, and we are dedicated to providing equal opportunities and actively promoting a culture of belonging.
Feel free to let us know in your cover letter if there are any past or current circumstances that can impact your application.
By embracing the unique perspectives and experiences of our team members, we aim to foster innovation and advance excellence in research. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is essential for scientific creativity, effective collaboration, and impactful discovery.
