项目介绍

2025年5月13日

Join the Institute for Chemical Neuroscience external link (iCNS) to study molecular changes in the human brain linked to psychiatric symptoms. In the brain, the complement system plays an important role in circuit homeostasis and disease.

Your job

iCNS aims to discover molecular changes in the human brain underlying psychiatric symptoms. In an NWO-supported Gravitation consortium, neurobiologists, chemists, psychiatrists and data scientists work closely together on the unique and well-documented human brain tissue from the Netherlands Brain Bank. Young scientists will be trained in combining chemistry, artificial intelligence and neurobiology. Ultimately, the interdisciplinary research from iCNS will lead to a molecular ‘brain atlas’ of psychiatric symptoms, and to new leads and approaches to improve the future diagnosis, prognosis and possible treatment of psychiatric disorders.

The innate complement system, which consists of more than thirty membrane-bound and secreted proteins, is an evolutionary old and highly conserved protein cascade system in the immune defense against pathogens and to remove damaged cells. In the brain, the complement system plays an important role in circuit homeostasis and disease. Complement is crucial in tagging and removing superfluous synapses on neurons and required for correct myelination of axons. When the activation and control mechanisms of complement fail, the dysregulation of cellular homeostasis may cause a delicate disbalance leading to tissue damage and diseases, including schizophrenia and depressive disorders.

This PhD project is part of a cross-disciplinary collaborative effort in the Institute for Chemical Neuroscience to develop new chemical tools and investigate complement pathways in the brain. Collectively, new insights into complement in psychiatry will be obtained, ranging from protein structure to functional consequences of complement dysfunctions. The work will deliver a basis for future research and biomarkers in neuropsychiatry.

You will join the Structural Neurobiology research group of Professor Bert Janssen external link, which combines biochemistry, X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to unravel the molecular processes that facilitate cell-cell communication and interaction in the nervous system. As part of iCNS, you will collaborate with chemists and neurobiologists to make and improve molecular probes and visualise complement activity in the nervous system.

By joining our group, you will be part of an academic environment with several world-class scientists, Where English is the main language. You will get the opportunity to:

• develop skills indesign of protein probes targeting specific complexes;
• produce and purify proteins in Escherichia coli and HEK293 cell cultures;
• determine structures of probe-target complexes with cryo electron microscopy;
• develop skills in cryo electron tomography on reconstituted enzyme complexes;
• learn how to apply cryo electron tomography to tagged organotypic slice cultures;
• gain deeper insights into the biology of neurons.

Develop academic skills such as effective scientific communication (written and oral), building collaborative networks and teaching. For example through our Molecular Life Sciences programme.

Your qualities

• You have (or will soon complete) a Master’s degree in Molecular Life Sciences, preferably (structural) Biochemistry or Molecular Biology.
• You have advanced (theoretical) knowledge of multiple of the following subjects: Structural Biology, X-ray crystallography, Cryo Electron Microscopy, Biophysics, Biochemistry.
• You are experienced in molecular biology, protein expression and purification.
• You are highly motivated, able to deal with challenges, creative and you like to work in a collaborative environment.
• You have excellent oral and written skills in English (C1).
• Previous hands-on experience in Structural Biology/Cryo-Electron Microscopy is not required but will be considered an advantage.

Our offer

• A supportive environment with a commitment to academic development and maintaining a healthy work-life balance;
• a position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months;
• a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)); 
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus; 
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU. 

In addition to the terms of employment external link laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development external link, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities external link, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University external link.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University external link, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes external link. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow external link.

Working at the Faculty of Science external link means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty external link has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we external link work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn external link and discover how you can become part of our community.

You will work in the research group of Professor Bert Janssen external link, which is part of the Structural Biochemistry external link section. The group offers a collaborative environment, modern tools in structural biology; X-ray and cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, biochemical, biophysical and cell biological techniques and an extensive computing infrastructure for data processing. We have access to the in-house Electron Microscopy Centre external link, which houses advanced instrumentation for cryo-EM and cryo-ET, including a Talos Artica, equipped with K2 direct electron detector, energy filter and a Volta phase plate.

The Structural Biochemistry group is part of the Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research external link which coordinates the Molecular Life Sciences PhD programme and offers regular seminars by scientists from all over the world, access to advanced courses and regular PhD evenings for PhD candidates and postdocs to present their work and enhance social cohesion within the Bijvoet Centre. The Bijvoet Centre comprises six research sections that form a collaborative environment focussing on elucidating the structure of the biomolecules that make up all living organisms. In addition, the Bijvoet Centre has a state-of-the-art Protein Research Centre external link that is equipped for protein production, purification and analysis. 

Bert Janssen is a researcher at the Institute for Chemical Neuroscience external link (iCNS) in which chemists, neurobiologists, psychiatrists and data scientists work together to discover the molecular changes in the human brain underlying psychiatric symptoms.

More information

For more information, please contact Professor Bert Janssen external link at B.J.C.Janssen@uu.nl.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home external link for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

If you are enthusiastic about this position, just apply via the ‘apply now’ button. Please enclose:

• your motivation letter;
• your curriculum vitae;
• the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two referees.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

The application deadline is 28 May 2025.