Vacancy PhD candidate 'Preparation and imaging of masked antibody-drug conjugates'

Job description

We are looking for an ambitious PhD candidate to investigate the safety and efficacy of newly developed masked antibody-drug conjugates (mADCs). Will you join our team? 

As a PhD candidate you will develop the mADCs at Wageningen University and test them on in vitro and in vivo models at Radboudumc Nijmegen. Studies will include, among others, masking of ADCs, radiolabeling of the mADCs, in vitro cell binding studies, and animal studies to investigate the tumor and normal tissue targeting properties of the mADCs by means of radionuclide imaging. Finally, the anti-tumor efficacy will be tested in cell culture and animal studies.

The project is funded by the NWO Open Technology Programme. You will work in a multidisciplinary consortium, including Wageningen University, Synaffix, Genmab, and EnzyTag.

The PhD candidate will:

• Design and perform scientific research, including chemical modification of antibodies (such as radiolabeling), in vitro cell binding experiments, therapeutic efficacy assays, immunohistochemistry, and animal experiments (radionuclide imaging, therapy experiments).
• Analyze scientific data.
• Write scientific publications and present findings at (inter)national scientific meetings.
• Work in a consortium in close collaboration with Wageningen University and the biotech companies Synaffix, Genmab, and EnzyTag.

Place of work

The Department of Medical Imaging provides academic patient care, research, and education. Imaging plays a vital role in the diagnosis of many diseases and conditions. To this end, the department uses CT, ultrasound, MRI, PET, and SPECT. In addition to diagnostic procedures, the department also performs treatments, such as angiographic interventions or therapies using radiopharmaceuticals—for example, for thyroid, prostate, or liver tumors.

The department includes five research groups, one of which is the Nuclear Medicine group. Our group has a long-standing research line focused on the development and application of radiolabeled tracers for nuclear imaging and therapy. Within the department, there is a strong focus on translational research through collaborations between basic scientists and clinical researchers. Research includes molecular studies on the mechanisms of nuclear therapies, preclinical development of new imaging and therapeutic agents for cancer patients, and clinical trials.

The department has excellent research facilities, including level B radionuclide laboratories, GMP radiolabeling facilities, and a preclinical imaging center (PRIME) with state-of-the-art imaging facilities, including microPET/CT, microSPECT/CT, IVIS fluorescence/bioluminescence, and small-bore high-field MRI.

The research group consists of approximately 30 researchers, including senior scientists, PhD students, medical doctors, and research technicians.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare. 

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

Profile

You are enthusiastic and have a strong motivation to successfully complete a PhD. Moreover you have:

• A masters degree in (Medical) Biology, Biomedical sciences, Molecular life sciences, or equivalent.
• A permit to work with laboratory animals (or willing to obtain this permit).
• A Permit to work with radioactivity (or willing to obtain this permit).
• Sufficient knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry to perform bioconjugations on antibodies.
• Well-developed communicational and social skills directed towards working in a team.

Employment conditions

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• Upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€ 3.108 based on a full-time appointment). Over a maximum period of 4 years, you will progress to scale 10A, step 3 (€3.939 based on a full-time appointment). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a 47% to 72% bonus for working unsocial hours.
• 176 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. 

And there is more..

• An Employment Conditions Selection Model, allowing you to use part of your employment conditions to your choosing. For example, you can use your gross salary to purchase additional vacation hours or hours for providing informal caregiving. Or, for example, you can use your gross end-of-year bonus to purchase a bicycle, so you pay less tax.
• Plenty of opportunities for personal development. You can take a variety of courses in our online learning environment. 
• Your well-being and vitality are a priority. For example:
  • Save time for work-life balance leave. 
  • You can enjoy unlimited access to a variety of activities five days a month and take advantage of all the facilities at Radboud Sport & Culture for only €27.05 per month (instead of €41)
  • Healthy Professionals program to help you manage your energy. 
  • Company Support Team and a personal coach if you are going through a life-changing event.
  • Financially beneficial working less through a Generation Scheme as you approach state pension age.
• Support in achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. Examples:
  • Advice and courses on, for example, 'Millennial dilemmas' and 'Your Career After 57'.
  • Activities at our own mindfulness center.
  • Informal caregiving consultations if you have questions about juggling work and caregiving responsibilities at home.
• In addition to statutory pregnancy and maternity leave, Radboud university medical center offers 26 weeks of parental leave, nine of which are paid. In addition, as a partner you can take a maximum of five weeks of supplementary partner leave. During supplementary partner leave and parental leave, we supplement the UWV benefit up to 100% of your salary.
• Pension accrual at the ABP Pension Fund. Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. 
• Discounts on supplementary packages of two group health insurances and ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• An allowance for your commuting costs of € 0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km one way. If you use public transport to commute, we will fully reimburse the public transport costs (2nd class). If you regularly work from home, you will receive a working from home allowance of € 2.40 per day.

Application procedure

Are you ready to think further for our patients and our care? We would like to receive your application before 15 September 2025. We will then contact you shortly. The first job interviews take place on 25 September between 9.00 -13.00 uur and the second job interviews will take place on 30 September 2025 between 12.30 -14.00. We would appreciate it if you would take this into account.

Good to know

• This position requires a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).
• You can find more information about our application procedure and frequently asked questions on our website.
• Will you be our new colleague? Then you will be given the time and space to get to know your role, your workplace, and your colleagues. An induction day for all new colleagues is an integral part of your onboarding program. 

We are recruiting for this position ourselves. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated, but do feel free to share the vacancy in your network!

Contact

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then call, send a message or email to Prof.dr. Sandra Heskamp, Research group leader via +31 24 361 45 11 or with Dr. Bauke Albada, Wageningen University via +31 6 14 32 77 45. Use the Apply button to submit your application.