PhD/Post-doctoral

VIB Center for AI & Computational Biology Centers At VIB

PhD/Postdoc in In Vivo CRISPR Screening (Dry and/or Wet Lab)

VIB Center for AI & Computational Biology Ghent PhD/Post-doctoral

The Laboratory of Causal Systems Immunology combines causal inference, probabilistic AI and large-scale in vivo perturbation experiments to uncover how genes shape immune-cell states and predict how the immune system responds to interventions. This tight integration of advanced machine learning and experimental immunology allows us to tackle fundamental biological questions with direct biomedical relevance. We are embedded in both the VIB Center for AI & Computational Biology —a young, ambitious center whose research groups address biological questions through the lens of AI—and the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research , where we collaborate closely with leading experimental immunologists to unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms of inflammatory diseases.

About the position

The Laboratory of Causal Systems Immunology is looking for a PhD student or postdoctoral researcher to advance in vivo perturbational screening. We have developed single-cell CRISPR technologies that enable dozens of molecular factors to be screened in vivo during development and disease, accelerating the discovery of pathways that control immune-cell behavior.

You will help expand these technologies by improving the screening pipeline, applying it in new biological contexts and uncovering mechanisms of immune regulation at the systems level.

Our lab closely integrates experimental and computational research. The position can have an experimental, computational or hybrid focus, but an interest in both areas is essential.

Depending on your profile, you will:

• Learn and apply the complete screening pipeline, from stem-cell engineering to data analysis
• Develop and test improvements in single-cell methods and vector design
• Apply the technology in steady-state and disease settings
• Analyse perturbational data to identify causal regulators of immune-cell states
• Close the loop between computational predictions and experimental validation
• Present your work at conferences and publish in scientific journalsContribute to the supervision of Master’s and, where appropriate, PhD students

Your profile

• A Master’s degree for PhD applicants or a PhD for postdoctoral applicants in molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioinformatics, computational biology, biostatistics or a related field.
• Experience in either experimental or computational biology
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Our offer

• An interdisciplinary environment spanning experimental biology, technology development and computational research
• Access to an established in vivo single-cell CRISPR screening pipeline
• The opportunity to investigate biologically and medically relevant immune-cell populations
• Access to state-of-the-art technologies, data and core facilities
• A collaborative environment across two VIB research centers
• A motivation letter submitted through the designated form
• A scientific CV highlighting how your past experience and achievements are relevant to this position.
• Ideally, contact details for at least one referee

In case of questions, please reach out to recruiting@vib.be.

VIB.AI is a brand new research center. Its core mission? To study fundamental problems in biology by combining machine learning with in-depth knowledge of biological processes. We are looking for junior and senior group leaders to help shape our research agenda.

Examples of research topics include, but are not limited to: development of new AI architectures for biology and hybrid models that combine deep learning with mechanistic models; foundation models of genome regulation using single-cell and spatial multi-omics data; AI-based modeling of protein structure and protein interaction networks; AI-based modeling of cell morphology and tissue function using imaging and computer vision; AI models of disease and digital twin applications.

An innovative region at the heart of Europe

Leuven and Ghent are based in Flanders, one of the top research destinations in Europe. VIB.AI is part of the VIB Life Sciences Institute (with colleagues working in cancer, biotechnology, immunology, plants, microbiology amongst others) and an extensive set of core facilities. VIB.AI is embedded within the University of Leuven , the largest university in Belgium and Europe’s most innovative university. KU Leuven is also home to the Leuven AI Institute and the Leuven University Hospital , one of the largest in Europe. Leuven is also home to Imec , a world-renowned research center for nanoelectronics and digital technology.

Leuven is an attractive unive