Job description

A PhD position is available at the Centre of Excellence in Mycotoxicology & Public Health (FW03) for a highly motivated scientist to join the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) funded MISAME III research project. The ‘Micronutriments pour la Santé de la Mère et de l’Enfant III’ (MISAME-III) project is a two-phase community-based, individually randomized efficacy trial aiming to improve birth outcomes and infant growth in rural Burkina Faso. The trial compares the effect of an enriched nutritional supplement during the postnatal period with the control group that receives iron and folic acid only. The findings of the trial will guide international recommendations for nutritional supplements during pregnancy.

As part of the study, biospecimen samples will be collected in mothers and children (i.e., faeces, urine, and blood) to assess both the mediating effect of gut microbiota and environmental contaminants in the relationship between the supplementation and the main outcomes of the study. We are searching for a PhD researcher, based at Ghent University, Belgium to

- assist the MISAME III team with practical aspects related to data handling, sampling and quality control of the blood and urine samples

- assess the effect of the nutritional supplement on multiple biomarkers of exposure as defined by proteomics and metabolomics

- assess how mycotoxins influence the effects of the nutritional supplement on child health and growth

Profile of the candidate

• You have a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Bioscience Engineering or equivalent;
• You have a strong interest in human bioanalysis;
• You have hands-on experience in analyses using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-resolution MS;
• You have experience in data-interpretation on the abovementioned techniques;
• You have experience and/or interest in biostatistics
• Excellent English writing and communication skills are mandatory. Working knowledge of French would be an advantage;
• You want to work in a multi-disciplinary, international and intellectually challenging environment;
• You are flexible, responsible and able to work independently as well as in team;
• Eager to work in a team of researchers at Ghent university and international partners.

How to apply

Please submit a cover letter in which you specify why you are interested in the position and why you consider yourself a suitable candidate (400 words max), a full CV, a full transcript of records to date (degrees and grade list) and a list of at least 2 contact persons (with name, e-mail, address, phone number) for letters of reference to (one PDF document): Prof. dr. Sarah De Saeger sarah.desaeger@ugent.be, before August 10, 2020 with email subject [PhD MISAME III – name applicant]. Top-ranked candidates will be invited for interviews.