Teaser Text

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated PhD-candidate who is eager to study the ecotoxicological safety of nano-embedded medicines and their degradation products. You will perform experiments, develop dose-response models and mechanistic understanding allowing to develop a workflow allowing understanding and awareness amongst different stakeholders. You will be embedded in the Environmental Biology Department, which is part of the Institute for Environmental Sciences at the Faculty of Science at Leiden University.

Description of research:

The application of nanotechnology in medicine, provides tremendous opportunities either to improve existing therapies or enable entirely new treatments for a range of debilitating diseases, including cancer and genetic disorders. Especially in the field of drug delivery, nanomedicines (NM) have shown effectiveness by increasing the therapeutic index of existing drugs or enabling macromolecular drugs to overcome biological barriers. Despite these success stories, there are still quite some roadblocks that limit the full potential and breadth of NM in treating a variety of diseases. From the perspective of (eco)toxicology we are talking mainly about substances that are problematic in light of their poor degradability, high toxicity or tendency to accumulate at non-targeted sites. The Environmental Risk Assessment framework developed within our group gives tools to determine exposure as well as potential effects, allowing risk characterization.

The PhD project is part of a national effort (NanoMedNL) to create novel nanomedicines for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients. The PhD student will collaborate with and contribute to this multidisciplinary consortium.

What you will do

We will establish a workflow for the investigation of the release and potential short-term and long-term impacts of nanomedicines and their degradation products on a representative battery of non-target species (e.g. culturable microbes from a representative host, some standard low tier laboratory species like daphnids, algae). Experiments on fate within the relevant exposure medium, as well as uptake and effects will be executed. The assessment will follow a tiered approach adding realism and complexity into the testing: from standard OECD lab tests to disentanglement of mechanisms of toxicity including biotransformation and degradation of nanomedicines towards a quantitative assessment with more complex testing, enhancing the human and ecological relevance. This tiered approach gives support to environmental risk assessment for these new classes of medicines from the design phase onwards. It should integrate awareness and risk-benefit considerations.

Key responsibilities

• Complete a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four year
• Investigate novel nano-embedded carriers of medicines and publish about dose-effect relationships and mechanisms of uptake, biodistribution and effects.
• Collaborate with a variety of stakeholders, so that together standardized workflows and understanding can be established.
• Discuss your work in our group meetings, incorporate feedback, and give input to others
• Assist in writing the deliverable of the tiered approach for the determination of nanomedicine environmental impact based on your scientific achievements.

Where you will work

Leiden University is situated between Amsterdam (36 km) and The Hague (15 km) and was founded in 1575, making it the oldest university in the Netherlands. It houses around 35,000 students originating from 112 nationalities, facilitated by approximately 8,000 staff.

The Institute of Environmental Science (CML) at Leiden University offers a vibrant and supportive community of scientists committed to the challenges of sustainability. CML distinguishes itself for its attention to professional development in coordination with the interests of its scientists. As such, there are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, expand your knowledge, collaborate across disciplines, and experiment in a friendly environment fully embodying academic freedom across all career levels. 

The core focus of CML is to perform research and education in the interdisciplinary field of Environmental Sciences. CML focuses on the sustainable use of natural resources and preservation of natural capital and biodiversity. CML has a culture of mutual support and collaboration between researchers. CML has two Departments: Industrial Ecology (CML-IE) and Environmental Biology (CML-EB). Presently, about 150 fte (including postdocs and PhDs) are employed at CML. CML further collaborates with TU Delft and Erasmus University in the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Sustainability (LDE-CfS), and with the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre.

The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is positioned in the Faculty of Sciences. The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expanding fundamental knowledge by curiosity and looking beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future. The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organized in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2.800 staff and almost 6000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.

For more information, see  www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science. Information about CML can be found at  www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/environmental-sciences.

What you bring

You have strong analytical and critical thinking abilities, you are enthusiastic and self-motivated when it comes to learning new skills or exploring new topics, and you have good communication skills.

Your experience and profile:

• Completed or soon-to-be completed MSc in the environmental or biological sciences. or related fields in the natural sciences (e.g., computational, mathematics, earth sciences, physics) with an interest in ecology and evolution
• Demonstrated experience with mathematical modelling, and an ability to learn new concepts and (computational) methods as needed
• Affinity with scientific computer programming (e.g., R) and experimental work
• Proficient communication skills in spoken and written English

We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team, welcoming applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. Your unique perspectives will enrich our research and foster a collaborative and innovative environment.

What we offer

We offer an initial one-year contract, with an option to extend for up to 3 years based on performance, following the pay scale P in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Salary ranges from € 3.059- gross per month in the first year to € 3.881 gross per month in the fourth year based on a full-time position.

At our institution, we believe in flexibility and work-life balance! With a full-time position (38 hours per week), you are entitled to 232 vacation hours per year, which is equivalent to 30.5 vacation days (based on a 38-hour work week). If you value flexibility, you have the freedom to adjust your working hours. For example, you could choose to work 40 hours per week, earning extra compensation hours. Alternatively, if you prefer a shorter work week, you can work 36 hours per week by using some of your vacation days to create more time for yourself. You’ll work closely with your supervisor to tailor your schedule in a way that suits both your’s and the team’s needs.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Holiday allowance (8%) and an end-of-year bonus (8.3%)
• An attractive pension scheme with ABP, ensuring your financial well-being both now and in the future
• Extensive options for secondary employment conditions: You can explore options such as sabbaticals, paid parental leave, and the individual choices model, which allows you to exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits like an advantageous sports subscription, bicycle scheme, and childcare options
• Hybrid working options: If your role allows, you can enjoy the flexibility of working from home within the Netherlands
• Home-working allowance: You will receive a home-working allowance (for both workdays and internet), and the university will provide you with a laptop and support for creating a comfortable home office
• PhD student support: As a PhD student, you will be part of the Graduate School of Science, which offers a variety of training courses at three levels: professional courses, skills training, and personal effectiveness

We are committed to offering a flexible, supportive, and rewarding work environment, designed to help you grow both professionally and personally. For more information about the working conditions, please visit: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions

What we find important

At the Faculty of Science, we value inclusiveness and strive for a diverse community with equal opportunities for all. We give full support to our staff in achieving their potential to become independent academic researchers and teachers. For more information about our policy on diversity and equality please go to the diversity page on our website: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/dossiers/diversity

Female researchers are also welcome to join the Researchers In Science for Equality network of the Faculty of Science (rise.nu).

Want to apply or find out more?

Please submit your application via the online recruitment system, via the blue button at the top or bottom of this page. Applications received via e-mail will not be taken into consideration. Please ensure that you upload the following additional documents quoting the vacancy number:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter (max 2 pages.)

The deadline for submissions is Sunday 16th of November; applications received after this date will not be considered.

The 1st round of interviews will take place on Monday 1st of December.

Enquiries about the PhD position can be made to Martina Vijver (vijver@cml.leidenuniv.nl).