Doctoral fellow

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 85 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

• At least 90% of your assignment will be spent on academic research in preparation of a doctoral dissertation. 
• We are looking for a talented and motivated PhD student with an interest in translational and immunological research in the field of rheumatic diseases and the musculoskeletal system. You will join the research group of Prof. Dirk Elewaut and work in close collaboration with Dr. Thibaux Van der Stede. 
• The multidisciplinary and international team of the Elewaut lab is embedded within the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research (IRC) and strives to better understand the underlying disease processes in rheumatic diseases. 
• The PhD project will specifically focus on the cellular mechanobiology of rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis. Our team has a longstanding interest in external risk factors for arthritis development (PMID: 32080619), in which we have demonstrated that mechanical loading of the joints is a crucial factor determining joint health (PMID: 30397205). This process is driven by an intricate crosstalk between stromal (e.g. fibroblasts) and immune (e.g. macrophages) cells in the synovial joint. 
• We have identified key proteins of interest regulating the mechanoinflammatory joint microenvironment, which will be studied in-depth in the current PhD project. 
• This will be achieved by working with primary synovial cells obtained from joints from arthritis patients (e.g., CRISPR knock-outs and phosphoproteomics signaling), in vivo arthritis models in newly generated transgenic mice (e.g., clinical scoring and histology) and other state-of-the-art molecular biology tools (e.g., single-cell RNA sequencing and proteomics). 

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, or a related biological field (e.g. Pharmaceutical Sciences or Bioengineering). The degree requirements must be met by the date of appointment. 
• You preferentially have some experience with molecular and biochemical research and/or bioinformatic data processing of -omics datasets, or are motivated to develop these. 
• You have excellent communication skills in English, both spoken and written. 
• You are familiar with common MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Experience with data analysis in R and/or Python is a plus. 
• You hold a FELASA certificate (animal research) or are willing to obtain one in the first year of your contract. 
• You are punctual and accurate with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 
• You can work independently and function well within a team. 
• You have a positive and proactive attitude: You take initiative and have a hands-on mentality, perseverance, and a critical mind. 
• You are willing to apply for competitive PhD grants (e.g., FWO PhD fellowship). 

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer a full-time PhD position with an initial period of 12 months, which, after a positive evaluation, can be extended to a maximum total of 48 months. 
• Your contract will start on 01/06/2026 at the earliest. 
• You will be part of a team of clinical and basic science-driven researchers, including both wet lab and BioIT experts, with extensive experience in immunology and rheumatology research. For more details see: https://www.irc.ugent.be/groups/elewaut-lab 
• You will be supervised by experienced investigators with a strong international track record in rheumatology research. The central and faculty PhD program at UGent provides structured doctoral training, including specialized courses, transferable skills workshops, and regular progress evaluations to support your scientific and professional development. 
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by Team Personnel Administration based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales 
• 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. 

INTERESTED?

Send your cv, copy of your diploma (if already in your possession), a motivation letter and other relevant documents (e.g., reference letter) to thibaux.vanderstede@ugent.be
We do not accept late applications.

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Thibaux Van der Stede (thibaux.vanderstede@ugent.be).