Doctoral Candidate Position in Spatial Multi-Omics

KU Leuven; Vlaams-Brabant; Sur place; EUR 32 000 - 38 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

36-month scholarship

Training in spatial omics

Secondments to AtlasXomics and Intelig

Travel and accommodation funding

Résumé du poste

KU Leuven invites applications for a Doctoral Candidate position in Spatial Multi-Omics based in Leuven. The PhD will be conducted under the SPACE-MEL network, combining single-cell and spatial omics with training across academia and industry partners.

The successful candidate will develop spatial readouts from tissue, participate in secondments to AtlasXomics (USA) and Intelligent Biodata (Spain), and contribute to high-resolution maps of melanoma heterogeneity. Fluent English required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in life sciences; publication record a plus.
• Genuine commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and innovation.
• Experience with single-cell and/or spatial (multi-)omics methods is a plus.
• Proficiency in English; English test may be required unless exempt.

Responsabilités

• Develop a workflow to generate spatial transcriptome, protein and epigenome readouts from the same tissue section.
• Collaborate across academia and industry during secondments (AtlasXomics, Intelligent Biodata).
• Apply the workflow to melanoma samples to study tumour and immune cell organisation across molecular layers.

Connaissances

Molecular biology techniques

Cell biology

Biochemistry

Microfluidics

Bioinformatics

English proficiency

Formation

Master’s degree in life sciences

Description du poste

Doctoral Candidate Position in Spatial Multi-Omics

The PhD fellow will be based at KU Leuven under the supervision of Prof. Thierry Voet. Prof. Voet leads the KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics, and his team develops wet-lab and computational methods for single-cell and spatial multi-omics, applying them to human development, ageing and disease. The institute brings together researchers from over 70 groups across KU Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven and VIB, providing a strong interdisciplinary environment for hands-on training in advanced single-cell and spatial technologies.

Co-supervisors of this doctorate will be Dr. Jon Pey, Intelligent Biodata, Spain (Academia); Dr. Jennifer Garbarino, AtlasXomics Inc., United States (Industry).

Your PhD will be performed in context of SPACE-MEL, which is an EU-funded MSCA Doctoral Network advancing the next generation of spatial single-cell omics technologies for precision medicine. Bringing together leading European universities, technology providers, clinical partners and innovative companies, the programme will address key experimental and computational challenges currently limiting the clinical translation of spatial biology.

In this doctorate you will develop a workflow to generate spatial transcriptome, protein and epigenome readouts from the same tissue section. The project will combine single-cell and spatial multi-omics with DBiT-seq-based spatial omics sequencing technology and COMET-based spatial proteomics. This project is carried out in strong collaboration with academia/industry partners with visits to their laboratories expected: During a first secondment at AtlasXomics (3 months, United States; co-supervisor Dr. Jennifer Garbarino), the candidate will receive training in spatial epigenomic assay development and DBiT-seq-based workflow optimisation. The resulting workflow will be applied to melanoma samples to characterise tumour and immune cell organisation across multiple molecular layers. During a secondment at Intelligent Biodata (4 months, Spain; co-supervisor Dr. Jon Pey), the candidate will analyse the generated spatial multi-omics data using advanced computational and AI-supported integration approaches. Expected outcomes include optimised AXO DBiT-seq/COMET workflows and high-resolution spatial multi-omics maps of melanoma heterogeneity.

Profile

• Master’s degree in life sciences (bioengineering, biomedical sciences, genetics, genomics or equivalent). A publication record is a plus.
• Genuine interest and commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and innovation.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work seamlessly across interdisciplinary teams.
• Experience in designing and troubleshooting experiments is a plus.
• Experience with or knowledge of single-cell and/or spatial (multi-)omics methods is a plus.
• Applicants must be doctoral candidates, i.e not already in possession of a doctoral degree.
• Mobility rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.

Required skills

• In-depth knowledge of classical molecular biology techniques and expertise in good laboratory practice.
• Background in cell biology, biochemistry and microfluidics.
• Background in bioinformatics, hands-on expertise with single-cell and/or spatial omics is a plus.
• Proficiency in the English language is required, as well as good communication skills, both oral and written. Successful candidates will need to provide an English test (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English). You may be exempt if you are a national of a majority native-English speaking country, or have qualifications / degree that has been taught and assessed in English. The supervisor may also confirm that a candidate has the required level of English.

Offer

One PhD position is available. The project has a duration of 36-months.

The doctoral candidate (DC) will receive a 36-month scholarship to cover her/his living costs. The gross amount of the doctoral scholarship is based on a living allowance that is dependent on a country correction coefficient which takes into account the cost of living in the country of the recruiting institution. For Belgium, the gross amount of the doctoral scholarship (tax-free) will be approximately €3.120,64 per month if the DC is single with no dependent family members. It will be higher if the DC has a registered partner without income and/or dependent child(ren); it will be lower if the DC has a registered partner with income.

The cost of all training activities, including all expenses related to travel and accommodation to attend annual meetings and other network organized events will be paid by the network through the Horizon Europe MSCA-DN grant. DCs will have access to a dedicated workspace and to research facilities. Bench/consumables costs to execute the research project will be covered by the institutions.

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Thierry Voet, mail: [e-mail].

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

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location_city Locatie: Leuven