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PhD position to map how peripheral and circulating immune cells reflect early Parkinson’s disease (PD) biology

September 15, 2025

**Job Description**
This Ph.D. project, situated within the Gut-Immune-Brain Axis Lab and the Parkinson’s disease Research Team at the University of Antwerp and UZA, seeks a full-time researcher to investigate how peripheral and circulating immune cells reflect early Parkinson’s disease (PD) biology. The primary objective is to identify circulating immune signatures that can predict disease onset and progression in high-risk individuals and PD patients. The role offers a highly collaborative and translational environment, benefiting from access to VIB core facilities and data-science support. The successful candidate will drive a clinical-translational Ph.D., encompassing cohort coordination, sample processing, immune profiling, and data interpretation, with an expectation to publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences.

**Skills & Abilities**
• Strong interest in immunology and neurodegeneration.
• Experience with human samples and/or immunophenotyping tools (e.g., flow cytometry) is beneficial.
• Comfortable operating at the clinic-lab interface.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English (Dutch is an asset for patient-facing coordination).
• Motivated to participate in an international project within Europe, including potential travel.
• Proactive, rigorous, solution-oriented, and a critical thinker.
• Demonstrates attention to quality, integrity, creativity, and cooperation.
• Possesses teaching competences aligned with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision / VIB.
• Exhibits research qualities consistent with faculty and university research policies / VIB.

**Qualifications**
Required Degree(s) in:
• Medical degree
• Biomedical sciences
• Medicine
• Bioengineering
• Related field

**Experience**
Experience Required:
• 1 – 4 years (Biological sciences)
• 1 – 4 years (Engineering)
• 1 – 4 years (Medical sciences)
• 1 – 4 years (Neurosciences)

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Experience
Experience Required: • 1 - 4 years (Biological sciences) • 1 - 4 years (Engineering) • 1 - 4 years (Medical sciences) • 1 - 4 years (Neurosciences)
Work Level
Ph.D
Employment Type
Scholarship
Salary
Benefits: Monthly scholarship amount, ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance, and either a bicycle allowance or full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
Valid Until
December 10, 2025
Details
Full-time Temporary Duration: 1 year (renewable) Brief location description if available, e.g., Campus-based: Most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken
School / Department / Center / Lab
• Gut-Immune-Brain Axis Lab • Parkinson's disease Research Team • Translational Neurosciences Group • Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences • Department of Neurology
Supervisor(s)
Prof. Seppe De Schepper Prof. David Crosiers
Supervisor Email
apollonia.krooshof@uantwerpen.be seppe.deschepper@uantwerpen.be
University of Antwerp
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