Team Leader Tissue Engineering

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

YOUR TASKS

• You will co-lead the tissue engineering team within the research group of Prof. Phillip Blondeel (Department of Human Structure and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences) and coordinate the team’s daily scientific activities.
• You will develop and optimise vascularised human tissue models with (perfusable) microvascular networks for different organ systems.
• You will design, fabricate and validate microfluidic organ-on-a-chip platforms, including multi-organ systems.
• You will establish human disease models with functional integration of immune components.
• You will supervise PhD and Master’s students and laboratory staff, and share responsibility for laboratory organisation, quality control and standardisation of methods.
• You will collaborate closely with clinicians of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Ghent University Hospital), with Ghent University core facilities and with national and international partners, with a view to clinical translation.
• You will publish research results in international peer-reviewed journals and present them at international conferences.
• You will actively contribute to writing research proposals and funding applications (e.g. FWO, BOF, European programmes) and to valorisation initiatives.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a thesis-based doctorate (PhD) in biomedical engineering, bioscience engineering, biomedical sciences, biotechnology or a related discipline.
• You have demonstrable expertise in vascularised tissue engineering.
• You have extensive hands-on experience with microfluidics and organ-on-a-chip / microphysiological systems (design, fabrication, perfusion culture).
• You have experience culturing primary human cells and/or iPSC-derived cell types, and integrating immune cells into 3D tissue models.
• You master standard cell and molecular biology techniques (PCR, ELISA, scRNAseq), including advanced microscopy.
• You have postdoctoral research experience in organ-on-a-chip or tissue engineering. International research experience is an asset.
• You have a strong publication record in international peer-reviewed journals in the field.
• You have experience supervising PhD and/or Master’s students and have leadership skills.
• Experience in writing research proposals and funding applications is an asset.
• You have an excellent command of English, both spoken and written.
• You work independently and accurately, are a team player and are interested in translating research towards reconstructive surgery.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer you a contract of definite duration for a period of 1 year.
• Your contract will start on 1 January 2027 at the earliest.
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits .

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Phillip Blondeel ( phillip.blondeel@ugent.be ). Important: do NOT send your application by email, but apply online.

Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via selecties@ugent.be.