Principal Investigator Position in Neuroimmunology

Lead a lab at a top international institute

The VIBUAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology (Belgium) is searching for a junior Principal Investigator (PI) to join their faculty.

As part of our strategic investment in the area of neurobiology we are seeking candidates with a primary interest in neuroimmunology and neurodegeneration with expertise in unraveling the interactions between the immune system and the brain and the underlying diseaseassociated cellular and molecular mechanisms. Candidates at the junior level and with a track record of important contributions to the field of neuroimmunology with a focus on invitro and invivo disease modelling are encouraged to apply. We look for candidates who have research plans and a scientific vision that complements those of the faculty at the Center creating synergies and opportunities for collaboration.

Your profile

• A PhD and experience as a postdoctoral researcher or faculty member
• Innovative research goals with valorization potential in the field of neuroimmunology
• Demonstrated scientific excellence and impactful discoveries in the area of neuroimmunology and neuroscience demonstrating creativity and scientific quality
• Demonstrated success in obtaining competitive research funding
• A collaborative and interdisciplinary mindset
• Ambition to become a great coach and mentor of junior trainees
• Interest in outreach and broadly contributing to a top scientific environment
• Studied or worked in different regions/countries
• Experience in technology transfer is not required but would be considered a strength

We offer

• Full salary and core funding for five years (internationally competitive > 1 million EUR package depending on experience) that is renewable every 5 years.
• An attractive employment package including 100% of your salary and excellent health benefits
• Access to excellent and staffed core facilities at our Center and both of our hosting institutes: UAntwerp and VIB
• An internationally recognized vibrant and collaborative research environment
• Broad administrative and accounting support including help recruiting technicians PhDs and postdoc scientists for your group
• Professional leadership training for all PIs in the institute
• Stateoftheart research space
• A workplace that values diversity and promotes an inclusive environment
• Help with relocation and establishing a life in Belgium including visa application (if necessary) housing schooling and daycare

About the VIBUAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology

Our Center currently hosts six PIs each internationally recognized leader in the field of Neurogenetics or Neuroimmunology. Their groups address a broad set of questions related to neurodegenerative diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system with an emphasis on understanding the genetic etiology and developing diagnostics and treatment methods for these diseases. Approaches range from human genetics and genomics to protein biochemistry and neuronal and immune and glial cell biology while models include yeast fly mouse and stem cell and humanized systems. Research groups have access to stateoftheart research and topnotch support core facilities and attract talented PhD students and postdocs from across the world.

Prof. Dr. Rosa Rademakers is the Scientific Director and the vision of the Center is to consolidate its position of the center as world leader in the field of Neurogenomics and become a stronghold of neuroimmunology research within the next years all of that while investing in a collaborative research environment focused on teamscience. Together we aim to use innovative clinical genetic computational and functional biology approaches to define the molecular causes of neurodegenerative brain diseases and their key diseasemodifying pathways and to translate neuroscience discoveries into more precise diagnoses and treatment options for patients.

The VIBUAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology is part of VIB a worldclass Life Sciences institute with colleagueresearchers in cancer biotechnology structural biology and immunology amongst others and an extensive set of core facilities and opportunities for technology transfer. We are also embedded within the University of Antwerp which hosts additional research groups focused on neuroimaging electrophysiology bioinformatics (Biomina) and omics sciences.

About the City of Antwerp and Flanders

Antwerp is a dynamic and attractive European university city with a rich history and a lively multicultural atmosphere. Antwerp and the greater region of Flanders is internationallyoriented and techminded with a strong biotechnology sector with spinoffs and startups creating a natural home for researchers and their families. English is very widely spoken in the city and surrounding area.

Antwerp offers an affordable high standard of living and has an international school. The public education system and public health care system in Flanders are worldclass easily accessible and lowcost to endusers. Public transport is also excellent and widely available. Antwerp is located at the heart of Europe: only 15 minutes away from Deurne Airport and 35 minutes by train from Brussels International Airport with many daily direct flights to North America Africa and Asia. There are also highspeed direct international rail connections to Paris London and Amsterdam.

Start date: between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025

How to apply

Apply through our online system to upload:

• a cover letter
• your CV
• contact details of 3 referees
• a 45 page statement of your research interests and research goals

Application deadline: April 30th 2024. Shortlisted applicants will be invited starting in May 2024 for an interview.

For more information

Contact Prof. dr. Rosa Rademakers chair of the search committee at