Doctoral scholarship holder Medicine

Department: Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases
Regime Full-time

Let’s shape the future

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20 000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Department of Endocrinology-Diabetology-Metabolism in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is looking for a full-time doctoral scholarship holder in the field of Medicine.

Position

• You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis in the field of The title of the project is “ Elucidating the contribution of NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) and insulin resistance in the development of cardiovascular complications in people with type 1 diabetes.”
• Short summary of the project: Visceral fat accumulation and insulin resistance (IR) contribute to More people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are becoming overweight and present with IR, but the prevalence and impact of NAFLD in this population is still unclear. Non-invasive screening tools for NAFLD in T1D will be explored. Subjects with T1D and NALFD are more prone to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the independent contribution of NAFLD to CV events has to be determined. In this project we will investigate epidemiological and diagnostic challenges of NAFLD in T1D, explore the link between IR and NAFLD and chronic complications, and examine the independent contribution of NAFLD to the presence of macrovascular complications. The PhD student will assess accuracy of screening tools (risk scores, liver tests, ultrasound, elastography, MRS-PDFF) (PhD student will perform US & elastography), develop a screening algorithm, investigate the accuracy of a 13C glucose breath test as compared to a clamp test (executed by the PhD student), and perform cardiovascular screening tests (carotid intima thickness, flow mediated dilation). The PhD student will carry out statistical analyses.
• You will publish scientific articles (at least 3) related to the research project.
• You will carry out a limited number of consultations, teaching and research support tasks for Endocrinology-Diabetology-Metabolism and/or Gastroenterology/Hepatology and in the skills labo of the

Profile

• You hold a Master degree in
• You can demonstrate excellent study
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision .
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies .
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• It is highly recommended that you have already gained knowledge concerning type 1 diabetes and NAFLD (e.g. presentations at international congresses or publications).

What we offer

• We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed once for another two-year period.
• The planned start date is 01 October 2021.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• You will do most of your work at the University of Antwerp/Antwerp University Hospital in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here .

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 09 August 2021, (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: a motivation letter, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: a motivation letter and your academic CV.
• The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to [email protected] . If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof Dr Christophe De Block, Head of the Departement of Endocrinology- Diabetology-Metabolism at the Antwerp University Hospital and full professor at the University of Antwerp, email: [email protected] , phone 32-3-8214364.

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HRExcellencein Research Award forits HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity andattachgreatimportanceto an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.