PhD student in biomedical sciences, belgium

PhD student in biomedical sciences (2x2 years) ¡Autoimmunity¢:  Biomarker research in Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
(mandate MBW/2008/021-HO)

Background

The Biomedical Research Institute (www.biomed.uhasselt.be) is a  multidisciplinary research institute of the Hasselt University. 70  researchers and technical personnel perform molecular and cellular  biomedical research. The research is focused on two main research  domains: neuroinflammation and development of biosensors (in cooperation  with the Institute for Material Research (IMO)).

Job description

The successful applicant will be involved in a research project entitled  ¡New diagnostic and prognostic antibody biomarkers for multiple  sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)¢ of the Biomedical Research  Institute (BIOMED) at Hasselt University. This project is aimed at  identifying a panel of new molecular target antigens combined with  existing target antigens selected on MS with diagnostic and prognostic  potency by using technological platforms that allow for profiling the  antibody reactivity to tissue antigens in these diseases. The first goal  is aimed at identifying new serum markers for MS and RA by a systematic  profiling of the humoral immune response using the powerful molecular  SAS technology. A second goal is aimed at studying the functional  relevance of the existing selected MS markers and new MS and RA serum  markers in relation to disease by studying their expression in diseased  tissue and by studying T cell reactivity to these antigens. A third goal  is aimed at developing a high throughput and label free screening  platform using phages expressing autoantigens or derived peptide  fragments to efficiently validate candidate markers in a large number of  patients. The candidate will work on the third goal of the project.

Profile and diploma

The applicant should hold a master degree in biomedical sciences,  bioengineering, biochemistry, biology, biotechnology, medicine,  chemistry, or equal). Students in their last master year can also apply.

Further information
 * Content job responsibilities:
 * prof. dr. Piet Stinissen, +32-11-26 92  04, piet.stinissen@uhasselt.be
 * prof. dr. Veerle Somers, +32-11-26 92  02, veerle.somers@uhasselt.be
 * prof. dr. Luc Michiels, +32-11-26 92 31, luc.michiels@uhasselt.be
 * fax +32 11 26 92 09, website: www.biomed.uhasselt.be
 * Content terms of employment and selection  procedure: Jef Vanvoorden, 011-26 80 80, jef.vanvoorden@uhasselt.be

Application

Applicants must use the official application forms
 * which are available at the Rectoraat of  Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan - building D,  B-3590 Diepenbeek (Belgium), phone +32 - 11 - 26 80 03
 * or which can be downloaded here pdf-file / Word format.
The completed application forms must reach the above mentioned address  no later than Wednesday, November 5th, 2008.

Application by e-mail will only be taken into consideration when sent to the following address: jobs@uhasselt.be.

PhD Scholarship Patch Dynamics and Conservation Planning Coral Reef Study

Joint CSIRO/ Centre of Excellence PhD Scholarship:

Patch Dynamics and Conservation Planning
Australian Postgraduate Award equivalent (2008: $20007) per annum with potential for top-up, plus research costs.
Location: James Cook University, Townsville

A collaboration between the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University and CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems provides a unique opportunity for research into patch dynamics and conservation planning.

Systematic conservation planning (SCP) involves explicit objectives and transparent decisions about allocating conservation resources. However, the current theory and practice of SCP implicitly assumes that biodiversity distributions are static and that anthropogenic threats are not expanding. Major unmet challenges are to plan for the persistence of "natural" processes that maintain and generate biodiversity and to account for dynamic threats posed by human
activities. Among the processes that conservation planning should address are patch dynamics operating in all realms and across spatial and temporal scales. This project will address at least two kinds of patch dynamics and extend previous work on conservation planning through analysis of key patch parameters and simulation modelling. The outcome will be in inclusion of patch-dynamics in the conservation planning.

For further information on this scholarship topic and research proposal contact either:
Professor Bob Pressey: Bob.Pressey@jcu.edu.au phone 07 47816194
Dr Iain Gordon: Iain.Gordon@csiro.au

Applicants must hold an Honours Class I (or equivalent) degree and be competitive in attracting an Australian Postgraduate or JCU postgraduate research award.

Applicants must apply through the James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarship applications process.

Closing date for 2009 commencement: 31 October 2008

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