PhD Student Biophysics of Cellular Immunity

AcademicTransfer; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 33,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

University Medical Center Utrecht invites a motivated First Stage Researcher (R1) to join the Vorselen Lab. You will develop new analysis pipelines and apply quantitative image analysis to study immune cell biophysics.

The project combines immune assays with high-resolution fluorescence imaging to measure cellular forces during phagocytosis and by cytotoxic T cells, with an expected 25% experimental and 75% analytical emphasis.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in biophysics, bionanoscience, bioinformatics, or life sciences with quantitative skills.
• Experience with programming and image analysis; ability to build new image analysis pipelines.
• Hands-on wet lab experience including cell culture and fluorescent imaging.
• Meticulous, proactive, and flexible working style with a strong sense of responsibility.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills; ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Develop analysis pipelines to enable high-throughput analysis of cellular forces during phagocytosis and cytotoxic T cell activity.
• Conduct experiments combining immune assays with high-resolution fluorescence imaging to obtain the required data.
• Balance of experiments (25%) and data analysis (75%).

Job description

Organisation/Company University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) Research Field Physics » Biophysics Biological sciences » Biological engineering Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 23 Nov 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 36.0 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Mechanical forces have emerged as key regulators of immune functions. In the Vorselen Lab, we develop new technologies to tune the physical information that cells receive and to measure cellular forces. We combine this approach with high-resolution microscopy and molecular biology approaches. Together, this combination provides a very detailed readout of immune cell behavior and helps us understand the regulation of immune processes by physical forces in health and disease.

In this project, you will focus especially on developing new analysis pipelines to allow increased throughput analysis of cellular forces during phagocytosis and by therapeutic cytotoxic T cells. You will conduct experiments combining immune assays and high-resolution fluorescence imaging to obtain the required data. The balance of experiments and analysis is expected to be 25% and 75% respectively. Together, this approach is expected to reveal new insights into the regulation and functional role of biophysical forces by immune cells. The new tools and insights from this research will be a step towards assessing the potential of biophysical parameters as biomarkers.

We’re looking for a motivated, enthusiastic candidate who is excited by quantitative approaches to cellular immunology research.

You bring:

• A master’s degree (or equivalent) in biophysics, bionanoscience or bioinformatics (and biocomplexity), or a degree in life sciences combined with clear evidence of quantitative skills.
• Experience with programming and image analysis and excitement to build new image analysis pipelines
• Hands-on wet lab experience, including cell culture and fluorescent imaging.
• A meticulous, proactive, and flexible working style, with a strong sense of responsibility.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Additional Information

The maximum salary for this position (36 - 36 hours) is € 3.217,00 gross per month based on full-time employment.

In addition, we offer an annual benefit of 8.3%, holiday allowance, travel expenses and career opportunities. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Cao University Medical Centers (UMC).