PhD student transcriptional regulation of macrophages in atherosclerosis

You will investigate transcription factors and regulation in macrophages in atherosclerosis. Recent studies show that a specific macrophage subtype (inflammatory lipid-associated macrophages) contributes to poor disease progression in patients with atherosclerosis.

The goal is to identify specific transcription factors that regulate the gene programs of this particular subtype.

Your main tasks and responsibilities within this project are:

• Identifying transcription factors that regulate inflammatory macrophages in atherosclerosis using a natural genetic variation screen;
• Validating the identified transcription factors by measuring the effects of knockdown/knockout strategies on these macrophages;
• In addition to cell culture, you will also perform and analyze various techniques such as RNA sequencing and ChIP sequencing;
• Translating your findings to disease models and cardiovascular diseases.

• A flying start to your career in scientific research.
• Plenty of room for personal development with a wide range of training & development of academic skills
• Working on large-scale and own research, with motivated colleagues
• A contract for 12 months, extension to 4 years after a positive interim assessment.
• Salary scale OIO: € 3.017 to € 3.824 gross for full-time employment (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. Calculate your net salary here.
• Holiday hours: 186,4 per year for fulltime and a possibility to save additional hours.
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.
• Now still a (partial) reimbursement of your public transport travel costs. From 1 October, for >7 km each way, 100% public transport reimbursement and, for private transport, €0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km each way.
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme. And from 1 October, you will receive a reimbursement of €0.18 per km.

Watch this video with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.

You will work in Dr. Hoeksema’s team at the Department of Medical Biochemistry (see the website) at Amsterdam UMC, location AMC. You will be part of a team of young and enthusiastic researchers (PhD students, postdocs, and technicians) with excellent infrastructure and expertise in immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, epigenetics, gene regulation, and cardiovascular diseases.

You will be part of the Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Institute, the Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, and the Amsterdam UMC Doctoral School with opportunities to take various related courses.

This project is supported by a grant from the Dutch Heart Foundation.

Amsterdam UMC Research BV supports non-profit scientific research. In doing so, we provide researchers with everything they need to excel. Our principal investigators (PIs) and project leaders offer support in the field of project management, finance and human resources. In medical scientific research projects, legal support is also provided.

Watch the video to find out more.