Center for Medical Biotechnology

**About VIB**:
VIB is an entrepreneurial non-profit research institute, with a clear focus on groundbreaking strategic basic research in life sciences and operates in close partnership with the five universities in Flanders - Ghent University, KU Leuven, University of Antwerp, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Hasselt University. VIB is an independent research institute of the government, with about 1900 scientists from more than 77 countries.

**About VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology**:
The VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology (CMB) focuses on the development of new and innovative molecular tools and technologies to challenge human health problems. The Center translates its novel technologies and insights to widely applicable research tools, vaccines, diagnostics, and biopharmaceuticals. Our research pushes the boundaries of protein
- and DNA-focused biomolecular and bioinformatics research and engineering technologies. CMB educates and trains the next generation of medical biotechnology researchers and informs the public on the impact of biotechnology on human health.

**Ph.D. projects**:

- **Multi-omics characterization of immune triggers in Moyamoya disease - Impens Lab**
- ** Computational mass spectrometry - Martens Lab**
- ** Development and exploitation of a novel glycosylation-enabled antibody-drug conjugate technology - Callewaert Lab**
- ** Development and exploitation of novel proteomics technology to hunt for novel immunotherapy targets on cancer cells - Callewaert Lab**

Most of the targeted cancer immunotherapy modalities require the availability of a highly specific molecular target on the surface of the cancer cells or their immediate environment. There are unfortunately quite few such targets known, especially for carcinomas, severely hampering progress in the immunotherapy field. In our lab, we have obtained proof of concept for a completely new methodology to discover glycopeptides with cancer-associated structure, and directly quantify these on tumor vs. healthy tissues. In this Ph.D. project, the enzymatic/chemical sample preparation, mass spectrometrical proteomics, and bio-informatics aspects of this new discovery pipeline will be optimized and streamlined. Using this, we will engage in discovery of such new immunotherapy targets in a set of tumor entities where a high unmet need exists, in collaboration with clinical collaborators.
- ** Functional studies on N-terminal proteoforms of tRNA ligases - Gevaert Lab**

An aminoacyl-tRNA ligase loads a tRNA molecules with an amino acid, which is then transferred by a ribosome to form proteins. These enzymes are essential for RNA translation and protein synthesis but have extra domains that enable interactions with various proteins, including those involved in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. In this way, they play important roles in other cellular processes with implications for health and disease. In earlier studies, we identified a number of N-terminally shorter tRNA ligases (N-terminal proteoforms) which we will here functionally explore by means of interactomics and localization studies amongst others.
- ** Coronavirus control - Saelens Lab**

There is a pressing need for broadly neutralizing, affordable, and stable anti-coronavirus biologics. The aim of this Ph.D. project is to design vaccines that can induce immunity against a broad range of coronaviruses. Complementary to that, the second aim is to identify antibodies with broad coronavirus-neutralizing activity.

**What we are looking for**:

- You have a Master's degree in the field of life sciences, with a focus on bioinformatics, biomedical sciences, bioscience engineering, (bio)chemistry, (molecular) biology, biotechnology, medicine or related disciplines.
- You have analytical problem-solving skills, and you are a team player, creative, critical, and open-minded.
- You have excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

**What we can offer you**:

- A working environment with enthusiastic fellow Ph.D. students, technicians, postdocs, and group leaders.
- Swift access to state-of-the-art tools and infrastructure that are needed to fulfill your Ph.D. project.
- A stimulating and supportive international research environment.
- Institutional training opportunities to broaden your expertise and skills

**How to apply?**:

- A cover letter in which you specify and motivate the research topic of your choice
- Your CV and an overview of your study results (merged into one pdf file).
- Your diploma with the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French, or German) or English, please add a certified translation in one of the mentioned languages.

Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.