The Gut Peptide Research Lab is looking for a PhD student with a strong interest in biological rhythms, nutrition and obesity. The lab is integrated within the Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal disorders (TARGID) at KU Leuven (www.targid.eu). TARGID is an internationally recognized research center that seeks to offer multidisciplinary research in a challenging and innovative scientific environment. To this end, pre-clinical and clinical expertise is combined with state of the art technology to deliver top-quality research. The Gut Peptide Research Lab investigates how disruption of circadian rhythms such as shift work, chronic jetlag and obesity may increase the risk of metabolic disorders and gastrointestinal diseases.
Project
The project is part of an ongoing European Horizon project SHIFT2HEALTH in 7 European countries that seeks to gain new insights into behavioural and physiological mechanisms that cause shift workers to be obese. To date, limited options are available to study circadian rhythms in the human gut. This is the first study that will use 3D intestinal organoids from patients with obesity to study the effects of circadian disruption on rhythmic changes in the intestinal transcriptome and physiological functions. We will investigate in this mini-gut model whether timed administration of nutrients (intermittent fasting) or chronobiotics can affect or restore compromised rhythms in circadian clock genes and signaling pathways associated with gut homeostasis. This project will help identify strategies for chrononutrition to improve metabolic health. Our research integrates state-of-the-art techniques ranging from RNA-sequencing to super resolution imaging and metabolic studies in 3D human intestinal organoids.
Profile
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- You have a master degree in bio-engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, nutrition, biochemistry, biology or medicine
- You have a strong academic track record from bachelor throughout master
- You have excellent communication skills
- You have an excellent knowledge of English, spoken and written
- You are a highly motivated, enthusiastic, critical and creative person
- You are able to take on responsibilities and work independently
- You are a team player and look forward to collaborating within an international team of scientists
Offer
- Excellent guidance by a dynamic multidisciplinary team
- High level scientific training in a top-ranked university
- Opportunity to present results at national and international conferences
- Opportunity to integrate your own research ideas within the project
- A challenging job in an international environment
- We offer a full-time PhD position for 1 year, extendable to 4 years after initial positive evaluation
Interested?
Send your curriculum vitae directly to Prof. Inge Depoortere, Inge.Depoortere@kuleuven.be, or via the job site of the KU Leuven
You can apply for this job no later than September 29, 2023 via the online application tool
KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.
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