PhD Candidate Towards a tiered risk assessment strategy to evaluate the safety of herbal supplements

Official university vacancy imported from Maastricht University. Details are presented for discovery and may change. Confirm the latest requirements and apply on the official source.

• You develop and apply a next-generation strategy for assessing the safety of complex herbal preparations. Your main activities are:Review scientific literature, nutrivigilance data, risk assessments and available in silico information to select relevant botanicals, endpoints and assays.
• Develop and validate an effect-based test battery for hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, genotoxicity and endocrine activity using well-characterised reference botanicals.
• Use human-relevant in vitro models and complementary bioassays to screen complete herbal preparations, including products whose exact composition is not fully known.
• Contribute to mechanistic experiments and targeted chemical analyses, including LC-MS/MS and GC-MS, to identify compounds associated with observed biological activity.
• Integrate toxicological, chemical-analytical, in silico and nutrivigilance data to relate in vitro potency to plausible human exposure.
• Publish your findings in peer-reviewed journals, present them at scientific meetings and contribute to project reporting.
• A successfully completed Master of Science (MSc) in Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Life Sciences, Toxicology, Chemistry, Food Safety or any related field.
• Theoretical knowledge and experience and affinity with the field of toxicology, food safety, and/or risk assessment through academic training (courses, thesis, or research project) in your previous education.
• Hands-on experience and strong analytical capacity in mammalian cell culture, relevant molecular or biochemical assays (PCR, bioassays), and standard chemical analytical techniques such as HPLC and mass spectrometry.
• Practical experience with one or more of the following is an advantage: 2D/3D cell models, genotoxicity testing, reporter-gene assays, oxidative stress or mitochondrial assays, S9 metabolism studies, or analytical chemistry/mass spectrometry.
• Strong communication skills in English (fluent at C1 level), including scientific English writing and presenting and who has the ambition to share research outside of regular scholarly activities (such as writing publications).
• A 12-month contract (1,0 FTE) with the prospect of a 3 year extension based on mutual satisfaction.
• A gross monthly salary between € 3.204 and € 4.051 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.