The Medical Mycology research lab, led by prof. dr. Paul Verweij, studies azole resistance in the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Are you the Postdoc to support our JPIAMR funded project IMPROVE-ASP on diagnosing azole resistance in patients with aspergillosis? We would like to get to know you!

The WHO has recently published a fungal pathogen priority list, including 4 pathogens that are considered critical regarding resistance and clinical implications for management.

Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the 4 listed critical pathogens due to emerging resistance to azoles, global spread of resistance and the impact of resistance on treatment outcome. The IMPROVE-ASP project will investigate new methods to detect azole resistance genotypes in clinical samples, which is necessary due to increasing variation in resistance genotypes. We will use whole genome sequencing and gene editing studies to characterize mutations.

Our study involves international collaborations with six partners. Organizationally, you will work on multiple research tasks that may include laboratory work, bioinformatic analyses, administrative duties (checking and updating protocols and coordination of activities), communications, preparation, and implementation. Moreover, you will work together with a team of experts in genetics, molecular and clinical mycology.

The anticipated start date is July 1st 2024.

Activities and responsibilities

• Set up gene editing experiments. We will use CRISPR-Cas technology to determine the impact of short nucleotide polymorphisms in the cyp51A-gene on the azole phenotype.
• Bioinformatic data analysis.
• Technical validation experiments. A new sequence-based (such as RC-PCR) will be developed to enable the detection of genotype resistance variants in clinical specimens. We also aim to improve the sensitivity of resistance detection.
• Project coordination with international partners.
• Develop and test research hypotheses and prepare the research for publication.
• Present the work at seminars within the unit and at external meetings.
• Contribute to the Mycology Centers of Expertise scientific community through collaborations, workshops and talks.

You have a PhD in Medical Mycology or related field (either awarded or about to submit). Furthermore you have experience working with fungi and background knowledge and experience in bioinformatics. You have a demonstrable interest in translational research.

Participating in an interdisciplinary, international, collaborative, and translational research environment suits you well. You possess the interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate and communicate within and beyond academia. You have developed computational skills (e.g. R, Python or comparable).

Desirable skills:

• Expertise in laboratory work with fungi.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• A demonstrable interest in scientific outreach.
• Experience in fungal genomics.

Fixed-term contract: 1 year with prospect of extension.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• A gross monthly salary of between € 3.493 and € 5.504 (scale 10) for full-time employment (36 hours per week). You will also receive an 8% vacation allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and, depending on the position, an allowance of 47% to 72% for working irregular hours.
• Plenty of opportunities to develop yourself. For example, you can follow various courses via our online learning environment. A lot of attention will also be paid to your wellbeing and vitality. For instance, you can take advantage of:
  
  • a 40% discount on gym membership at the Radboud Sports Center.
  • the Company Support Team and a personal coach if you experience a life-changing event.
  • a financially favorable option to work less through a generation scheme if you are approaching state retirement age.
  • support with achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. This includes advice and training (from ‘Millennial Dilemmas’ to ‘Your Career After 57’), activities at our own mindfulness center, and informal caregiving consultations if you have any questions about combining your work and caregiving tasks at home.
• 168 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. Want more vacation? You can buy additional vacation hours with your end-of-year bonus.
• 26 weeks of parental leave, of which 9 weeks are paid.
• Extra-favorable leave conditions. For example, our short-term caregiving leave is not 2 but 4 weeks per year and even 12 weeks per year for partner and child.
• Pension accrual with the ABP Pension Fund. Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension contribution.
• Discount on the supplementary packages of two collective health insurance policies and on ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• A travel allowance via our Employment Conditions Selection Model and a working-from-home allowance of € 2,35 per day.

Radboudumc

Medical Mycology is a multidisciplinary focus research area involving various fields of expertise including pharmacology, host-pathogen interaction and antifungal stewardship. Within the Medical Microbiology department, we work on azole resistance in A. fumigatus with a team of dedicated researchers, including consultant microbiologists, molecular microbiologists, bioinformatic experts and research technicians. Our research is translational, aiming to improve care of patients with invasive fungal diseases.

Our group was the first to describe the environmental route of resistance selection in A. fumigatus, which has evolved into a global One Health problem. We work together at the national level with the public health institute (RIVM) and agricultural university (WUR) to approach the problem of resistant fungi from an One Health perspective.

The JPIAMR grant involves collaboration with world leading groups in fungal research including University of Nottingham, Public Health Wales, Pasteur Institute, KEMRI Institute in Kenya and a private company. Radboudumc has state-of-the-art equipment for genome sequencing and highly skilled researchers in fungi.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where our research groups strive for innovative solutions that make impact on health and healthcare. We challenge the status quo to overcome current and future health challenges. Our goal is to shape the future of healthcare for generations to come. Our focus is on prevention, sustainability, and meaningful care, which we achieve through our in-depth understanding of disease mechanisms, clinical science, public health research, medical technology and data science. Our approach is centered on breakthroughs that can truly enhance personalized healthcare and public health.

At Radboudumc, a comprehensive range of research programs provide the compass for our research efforts. Each program has a clear goal, where collaboration within and outside our organization is highly valued. We integrate care, education and research in partnership with our patients to ensure that our research programs have significant impact on health and healthcare. We invite you to join us in our mission to create a healthy future for all.