The project

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing morbidity, mortality, and health-care expenditures worldwide. Moreover, resistance to new antibiotics is emerging ever quicker after their introduction, rapidly reducing the effectiveness of even last-resort antibiotics. Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance is a pre-requisite for assessing the success of AMR stewardship measures, infection prevention and control, and the effectiveness of new therapeutic and diagnostic options. Conventional AMR surveillance is expensive in terms of money, infrastructure and expertise. Especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), healthcare systems often are incapable of facilitating such surveillance.

About your role

The Department of Global Health has a position available for a postdoctoral researcher to support and develop our research on antimicrobial resistance modeling for global health interventions. 

The postdoc will further develop and apply a mechanistic model of within-host dynamics of gonococcal infection, and its integration in an agent-based network model of infection transmission, to simulate treatment and stewardship scenarios for the introduction of a first-in-class antibiotic for the treatment of gonorrhoea (JPI-AMR MAGICIAN consortium). In addition, the researcher will contribute to further development of strategies to prioritize population-based AMR surveillance using modelling approaches (EU VEO consortium).

The work includes co-supervision of a PhD candidate and will allow for development of new lines of research.

About you

We are looking for a highly motivated, creative and pro-active candidate with the following qualifications:

• PhD in mathematical/theoretical biology or similar
• Extensive experience in (mechanistic) biological/epidemiological modelling
• Strong skills in R
• Experience in microbiology and/or infectious diseases a plus
• Experience with geographical information systems analysis a plus
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Fixed-term contract: This postdoc position is available for 2 years, with an evaluation after 1 year.

Our offer

• This postdoc position is available for 2 years, with an evaluation after 1 year. 
• Additional benefits include an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and 8.0% holiday pay.
• The base salary does not include holiday pay (8%) and a year-end bonus (8.3%).
• In addition to excellent accessibility by public transport, Amsterdam UMC (location AMC) also has a sufficient number of parking spaces for employees.
• Pension is accrued at Be Frank.

The Amsterdam UMC

The Amsterdam UMC, location AMC, houses the university hospital and the medical faculty of the University of Amsterdam, as well as several research institutes. Infectious Diseases represents one of the major areas of clinical, applied and basic research, integrated at the Amsterdam infection and Immunity Institute (AI&II).

Department of Global Health

At the Department of Global Health of the Amsterdam UMC and the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, we develop modelling and data science tools to support AMR surveillance and stewardship strategies at different organisational and geographical scales. At the larger (global, national) scale, we apply data science and statistical modelling approaches to prioritise surveillance activities in LMIC where data are scarce. At the local (community) scale, we apply mechanistic modelling approaches, to understand the dynamics of infections caused by resistant bacteria. Funding is available for two years with a view on the further development of the research program within the department of Global Health and the AIGHD.

The Department of Global Health of the Amsterdam UMC is one of the founding partners of the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD). AIGHD stands for a collaboration among biomedical researchers from the Amsterdam UMC (AMC), social scientists and economists from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and from the VU University Amsterdam (VU). AIGHD links expertise, resources and programs from institutions that are involved in health-related research, education and capacity building. The work of the Department of Global Health within AIGHD takes a problem-oriented approach and transcends the boundaries of traditional academic disciplines to provide sustainable solutions in the field of Global Health.

www.amsterdamumc.org/en/research/institutes/amsterdam-institute-for-infection-and-immunity/