The University of Groningen as Partner of the Top-Institute Pharma (The Netherlands) offers a PhD position in the Department of Analytical Biochemistry to work on a project entitled:

Acute and chronic inflammatory responses induced by smoking in individuals being susceptible and non-susceptible for development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): from specific disease phenotyping towards novel tailor-made therapy

This PhD position is embedded within a larger collaborative project between academic institutes and the pharmaceutical industry within the framework of a nationally funded centre of excellence the Top Institute Pharma (www.tipharma.nl). The PhD project will focus on developing novel methodologies to study the proteome of human biological samples with relevance to COPD, such as induced sputum, epithelial cells obtained by bronchial brushing and tissue biopsies. Special attention will be paid to sample preparation and the high efficiency separation of proteins and peptides by nano-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry using state-of-the-art equipment (e.g. chipLC-Q-TOF-MS, nanoLC-Orbitrap-MS). The project will be executed in close collaboration with the Groningen Research Institute of Asthma and COPD (Prof. Dr. Dirkje Postma; www.graduateschoolguide.nl/html/research/institutes/griac/home.htm).


The successful candidate will work in a team of analytical chemistry and clinical research groups. The Department of Analytical Biochemistry (www.biomac.nl) has extensive experience in proteomics and its application to biomarker discovery. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with the other partner groups in this project (Altana, GSK, University Medical Centers in Groningen and Utrecht).

Requirements:

• Strong background in protein and peptide analysis with a focus on HPLC and mass spectrometry.
• Experience with bioinformatics related to proteomics would be a significant advantage.
• Interested to perform research in a unique interdisciplinary biomedical environment.
• strong communication skills
• ambitious
• creative

Conditions of employment:
An appointment for a period of four years which period should be finished with a PhD examination. During the first year the gross salary is € 1956,- per month. This amount will increase to € 2502,- during the fourth year. After one year, the performance of the candidate will be evaluated to decide whether there is sufficient progress to expect a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the remaining three years.

Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from :

Prof. Rainer Bischoff
Telephone number: +31 (0)50 3633338
E-mail address: r.p.h.bischoff[ at ]rug.nl
Secretariat: telephone number: +31 (0)50 3633336

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links.

• About the organization
• Top Institute Pharma
• Research group

Additional information and sending in of applications:

Applications with curriculum vitae and the names of 3 people that can be contacted as references should be sent before October 31, 2007 to:

University of Groningen
Personnel and Organization Department
P.O. Box 72
9700 AB Groningen
The Netherlands
E-mail address: vmp[ at ]bureau.rug.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancy number AT 207169