PhD Candidate: Early-Life Gut Microbiome & Immunity

University of Amsterdam (UvA) via AcademicTransfer; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday pay

8.3% end-of-year bonus

30% ruling (tax advantage)

Job summary

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) invites applications for a PhD candidate at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences. You will explore how early-life gut microbes shape immune development using gut-on-a-chip, organoid and omics approaches within an ERC Starting Grant project.

The four-year appointment includes an educational plan, teaching duties for Bachelor’s and Master’s students, and access to advanced facilities and collaborations with Amsterdam UMC. Start 1 January 2027.

Qualifications

• MSc degree (or nearing completion) in immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences or closely related field.
• Excellent command of English in writing and speaking.
• Ability to plan and perform experiments independently while collaborating across disciplines.
• Curiosity, problem solving and persistence for complex research questions.
• Ability to document, analyse and communicate results responsibly.

Responsibilities

• Complete a PhD thesis within four years.
• Design and conduct experiments on maternal factors, infant gut microbiota and intestinal health.
• Culture and characterise infant gut microbes using the GUMI platform.
• Utilise organoid and immune-competent gut–microbe co-culture models.
• Analyse omics data to identify key bacterial species, metabolites and genes.
• Communicate results through publications and project collaborations.
• Contribute to teaching activities for Bachelor’s and Master’s students.

Skills

Independent work

English communication

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Scientific writing

Education

MSc in immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences

Tools

Gut-on-a-chip (GUMI)

Organoids

Omics platforms

Job description

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) invites applications for a PhD candidate at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences. You will explore how early-life gut microbes shape immune development using gut-on-a-chip, organoid and omics approaches within an ERC Starting Grant project.

The four-year appointment includes an educational plan, teaching duties for Bachelor’s and Master’s students, and access to advanced facilities and collaborations with Amsterdam UMC. Start 1 January 2027.