PhD student Immunology & Virology | Groningen

Visionatline; Groningen; Hybrid; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PhD position

Holiday allowance

Year-end bonus

Job summary

UMCG in Groningen invites applications for a four-year PhD position in Immunology and Virology investigating how metabolic health influences influenza infection in human adipose tissue. The project IMMO-VIR spans virology, immunology, endocrinology and clinical medicine, with international collaboration and exposure to advanced laboratories.

The candidate will design experiments, analyze tissue samples from individuals with obesity, and contribute to publications.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in biomedical sciences or related field.
• Strong background in virology or immunology.
• Experience with cell culture, molecular biology and immunological methods.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct experiments using human adipose tissue and influenza infection models.
• Study viral infection and replication in adipose tissue across metabolic profiles.
• Characterise local immune/inflammatory responses with molecular and cellular techniques.
• Integrate virological, immunological and metabolic data to identify susceptibility mechanisms.
• Collaborate with researchers and clinicians; present findings at conferences.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals.

Skills

Virology

Immunology

Mammalian cell culture

Molecular biology

Immunological assays

Flow cytometry

Biosafety Level 2

BSL-3 readiness

English communication

Education

Master's degree

Biomedical/Life Sciences

Job description

*Are you passionate about virology and immunology and interested in how metabolic health influences susceptibility to infectious disease? UMCG is looking for a PhD student to investigate influenza infection, immune responses and inflammation in human adipose tissue. You will work in an international, multidisciplinary team at the intersection of virology, immunology, metabolic health and clinical research.*## PhD student Immunology & Virology* WO / Master* 36 hours a week* Salary: min. €3.217 – max. €4.077* Closing date: September 22, 2026### Your responsibilities* Design and conduct experiments using human adipose tissue and experimental influenza infection models.* Investigate viral infection and replication in adipose tissue from individuals with different metabolic profiles.* Characterise local immune and inflammatory responses using molecular, cellular and immunological techniques, and compare them across metabolic health status and adipose-tissue location.* Integrate virological, immunological and metabolic data to identify mechanisms of susceptibility or resilience to severe infection.* Collaborate closely with researchers and clinicians across the team.* Present your findings at national and international conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.### IMMO-VIR projectObesity is a major risk factor for severe illness following respiratory viral infections such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Yet body mass index (BMI) alone cannot explain why outcomes vary so widely among individuals with obesity. Part of the answer may lie in the biology of adipose tissue itself. Adipose tissue is an active participant in immune regulation and inflammation. Individuals with obesity also differ in their metabolic health: some maintain relatively normal metabolic function, while others develop chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic disturbances that may shape their susceptibility to infection and severe disease. Studies in animal and cell models suggest that respiratory viruses can infect adipose tissue, but whether and how this happens in human adipose tissue remains poorly understood.The recently funded IMMO-VIR project (Immune and Metabolic Mechanisms in Adipose Tissue Driving Obesity-Linked Susceptibility to Respiratory Viral Infections) sets out to uncover how the heterogeneity of adipose tissue influences the response to influenza virus infection. As a PhD candidate, you will work with human adipose tissue from individuals with obesity and differing metabolic profiles to ask whether influenza virus can infect and replicate in this tissue, how the local immune and inflammatory response varies with metabolic health and anatomical location, and how these tissue-specific responses may contribute to the course of respiratory infection. IMMO-VIR is a collaboration between the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention and the Department of Critical Care at the University Medical Center Groningen. You will join an international, multidisciplinary team spanning virology, immunology, endocrinology, adipose-tissue biology and clinical medicine, an environment in which fundamental laboratory research is tightly connected to clinically relevant questions.### What we are looking forYou are an enthusiastic, curious researcher with a strong interest in virology and immunology and in how host biology shapes susceptibility to infectious disease. You enjoy hands-on laboratory work, reading scientific literature, are eager to develop new skills, and thrive in an international, collaborative setting. A good sense of humour will help you feel at home in our team.You also bring:* a Master's degree (or equivalent) in biomedical sciences, biomolecular sciences or a related discipline, candidates close to completing their degree are encouraged to apply;* a strong background in virology, immunology or a closely related field;* experience with relevant laboratory techniques such as mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, immunological assays, flow cytometry and/or virological methods, preferably at BSL-2 level;* a willingness to be trained for and to work with respiratory viruses at Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3);* the ability to plan, perform, critically evaluate and troubleshoot experiments;* the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary, international team;* excellent written and spoken communication skills in English;Experience with primary human cells or tissues, respiratory viruses and/or adipose-tissue research is an advantage but not essential.### What do we offerA four-year PhD position in a dynamic, international research environment, with access to state-of-the-art facilities and a structured training and supervision programme through the UMCG graduate school. This is a full-time appointment (36 hours), your salary will be a maximum of €4.077,- gross per month (scale PRO), depending on your qualifications and relevant experience, based on a full-time appointment. Additionally, the UMCG offers an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% year-end bonus.The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC). Preferred starting date: 15 November 2026 (and no later than 7 January 2027).Deel op FacebookDeel op LinkedInDeel op TwitterAlle Vacatures tonen**Opleiding:** Master, WO **Specialiteit:** Biologisch medisch, Immunologie, Infectie, Life Sciences, Moleculaire biologie, Onderzoeker, Virologie **Aanstelling:** Fulltime / 36 uur **Salaris:** min. €3.217 – max. €4.077 **Plaatsingsdatum:** 11 september 2026 **Sluitingsdatum:** 21 september 2026 **Locatie:** Groningen (Groningen), Nederland### Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen (UMCG)Adres: Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ GroningenStandplaats: Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ GroningenWebsite: https://werkenbijumcg.nlContactpersoon: See vacancy Lees meer### LinksLinkedin### For questions about the positionDo contact:* Jill Moser ud via [e-mail] or ([phone]* Izabela Rodenhuis-Zybert ud ius promovendi via [e-mail] or ([phone]### How to applyPlease use the the digital application form at our site - only these will be processed. You can apply until **22 September 2026**. Within half an hour after sending the digital application form you will receive an email- confirmation with further information. Interviews are expected to take place in early October 2026.*No agencies**Keywords: PhD student, PhD candidate, Immunology, Virology, immunology research, virology research, infectious diseases, influenza, respiratory viruses, adipose tissue, obesity, metabolic health, immune response, inflammation, molecular biology, biomedical sciences, biomolecular sciences, life sciences, mammalian cell culture, flow cytometry, immunological assays, molecular techniques, virological methods, BSL-2, BSL-3, Groningen, UMCG*