Doctoral Candidate Position in Spatial Multi-Omics

KU Leuven; Vlaams-Brabant; Sur place; EUR 35 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

36-month scholarship

Résumé du poste

KU Leuven invites applications for a PhD fellowship within SPACE-MEL, a MSCA Doctoral Network advancing spatial single-cell omics for precision medicine. You will develop workflows to generate spatial transcriptome, protein and epigenome readouts, combining DBiT-seq and COMET technologies in collaboration with AtlasXomics and Intelligent Biodata.

The project includes 3–4 month secondments in the United States and Spain, with training in spatial epigenomic assays and data integration.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in life sciences; publication record a plus.
• Genuine interest and commitment to advancing scientific knowledge.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work across interdisciplinary teams.
• Experience in designing and troubleshooting experiments is a plus.

Responsabilités

• Develop a workflow to generate spatial transcriptome, protein and epigenome readouts from the same tissue section.
• Collaborate with academia/industry partners during secondments (USA/Spain) for training and data analysis.
• Apply spatial multi-omics and AI-supported integration approaches to melanoma samples.

Connaissances

Molecular biology

Cell biology

Bioinformatics

Single-cell omics

Spatial omics

English proficiency

Formation

Master's degree in life sciences

Outils

DBiT-seq

COMET

Spatial omics

Description du poste

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).

Project

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 organised 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 contact Prof. dr. Thierry Voet, mail: [e-mail].

Applications must be submitted by before August 31st at 17:00 Central European time.

Required Documents

• Motivation letter in English indicating their interest in the project and how this fits with their already acquired skills and research ambitions (limit of 2,500 characters).
• Detailed curriculum vitae, including personal information, studies, list of publications, participation in research projects, extracurricular training, mobility, other qualifications or relevant skills.
• Certified copy(ies) of Academic Degree/s in the original language along with a certified translation into English, and/or Diploma Supplement.
• Certified copies of official Academic Transcripts relating to all academic courses taken to earn every degree (bachelor/master or equivalent), translated into English, and correspondent grade point average.
• English Proficiency Certificate (minimum scores: TOEFL 79, IELTS overall 6.5, Cambridge English CAE or CPE, ITACE C1 or ITACE C2). Applicants who have obtained a degree in a programme taught in English in Australia, English‑speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America are exempt from this requirement. If the certificate is not available at the time of application, it may be submitted later; however, it will be required from the selected candidate.
• Contact details of at least two references (no recommendation letters to be included).

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.