Professor in Molecular Immune Mechanisms in Urinary Tract Infections

Professor in Molecular Immune Mechanisms in Urinary Tract Infections

Job ID: 30441

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world-class, open, pluralistic and socially engaged university. Our credo is 'Dare to Think' : we have a haven for courageous thinkers.

With one of the most progressive career models for academics in the world, Ghent University evaluates its scholars not only by the length of their publication list but also by the impact they pursue, what they achieve and how they collaborate.

Are you a good 'fit' with our university? Discover here our vision on education and research.

ASSIGNMENT

The VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research ( https://www.irc.ugent.be/ ) is looking for a Principal Investigator to join its faculty (Group Leader at VIB and part time [10%] Professor at Ghent University). The new member of the ZAP-staff will be embedded in the Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology (WE14). This vacancy concerns a position as ZAP with a research assignment in the research domain ‘Molecular immune mechanisms in urinary tract Infections’.

Taking up this position, which is financed by VIB in the context of the framework agreement between VIB and Ghent University, gives rise to an appointment in a temporary, renewable employment contractuntil 31/01/2033to stimulate research in the field of ‘Molecular immune mechanisms in urinary tract Infections’ and implies the privilege to devote efforts largely to research activities during this period.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Candidates must demonstrate scientific excellence based on criteria of scientific quality, which is evident, among other things, from publications in journals and books with international visibility and from the proposed scientific research in the research plan.

The candidate will conduct research in the field of bacterial and viral urinary tract immunity. This research will take place within the Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology and should integrate research domains such as microbiology and molecular immunology and further develop confocal and intravital microscopy, spectral flow cytometry and single-cell multi-omics technologies.

As a VIB Group Leader and (part-time, 10%) Ghent University Professor, you will be expected to build your research program with your own independent research group, and to set up or consolidate a strong network with other researchers within VIB, UGent and beyond.

You strive for excellence in your research and thereby contribute to the scientific development of the Center for Inflammation Research (IRC) and the Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology (WE14).

Academic education

You lecture, when applicable, course units in the discipline of immunology, Molecular Pathophysiology and Experimental Therapy, or other courses linked to your expertise. The teaching assignment will be mainly situated within the Master program in Biomedical Molecular Biology. You are also responsible for supervising bachelor's and master's theses.

Academic research

You will develop a multi-scale approach, spanning tissue architecture of the upper and lower urinary tract, cell migration, cell-cells communication, host cell-pathogen interaction, intracellular signaling, and other biological processes, in which multiple aspects of host defense can be studied and integrated in parallel. These include extracellular matrix remodeling, leukocyte extravasation and migration through the interstitium, phagocytosis, NETosis, proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. You will combine a variety of in vivo experimental approaches to investigate cellular interactions and understand how tissue niches shape host defense.

You will set up a combination of two-photon microscopy, enabling the visualization of the spatiotemporal dynamics of host defense in vivo, with high-throughput approaches such as spatial and single-cell transcriptomics, to provide unique insights into the real-time immune mechanisms employed by the host within specialized tissue niches of the urinary tract. New developments can then be diffused into the department to apply on other tissues.

Ultimately, the integrative approach should contribute to a deeper understanding of host-pathogen interactions and support the potential development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against infectious diseases of this barrier tissue.

Institutional and societal engagement

You contribute to the internal and external services of the Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology and the Faculty of Sciences.

PROFILE

Experience

• You have a Ph.D. in Immunology, Urology, Systems Biology, or Biotechnology or a related field.
• You have already conducted high-quality scientific research in urinary tract immunology, as evidenced by publications in high-qua