PhD Candidate 'Organoid models to study mitochondrial kidney disease'

• Application Deadline: May 24 2026
• Nijmegen
• On-site

Job Description

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our research team. The project focuses on the functional effects of diseasecausing mtDNA mutations in kidney organoids.

Kidney tubulopathies are genetic disorders affecting kidney tubule function leading to blood pressure changes electrolyte imbalances seizures and cardiac arrhythmias. No curative therapies are available and current treatment remains symptomatic. Recently we identified mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations as a previously undetected cause of kidney tubulopathies due to their absence in standard genetic testing. However research has been hampered by the lack of accurate laboratory models and techniques to edit mtDNA.

In this project we will develop patientderived kidney models correct mtDNA mutations using advanced techniques and investigate the consequences for ion transport. Our interdisciplinary team combines expertise in mitochondrial gene editing kidney organoids and functional testing to determine how these mutations cause disease. This will yield new insights improved diagnostics and tools for future therapies.

In this project you will:

• study the molecular mechanisms that cause mitochondrial kidney disease.
• develop stateoftheart patientderived kidney organoids.
• work in a multidisciplinary team of scientists clinicians and patients to improve the diagnostics and therapy of patients with tubulopathies.

Place of work

In this position you will design and perform scientific research in the fields of genetics nephrology and physiology. You will generate and analyse data that contribute to scientific publications and present your findings at national and international scientific meetings. As part of an international research group consisting of PhD candidates postdocs and technicians you will collaborate closely within a dynamic and multidisciplinary addition you will join a national research consortium focused on kidney tubulopathies working intensively with other PhD candidates at UMC Utrecht.

Medical BioSciences is a science department where fundamental and translational biomedical research come together. You will study disease and health from the molecular level to clinical application with a strong focus on medical innovation. Researchers work closely with clinicians to translate new insights into better diagnostics and treatments. Using experimental and data-driven approaches we study biochemical cellular and physiological processes in health and disease.