PhD in Equine Reproduction - Embryo-maternal communication during early pregnancy (1.0 FTE)

The successful candidate will join the ‘Fertility & Reproduction’ research group at the Department of Clinical Sciences. F&R is an inter-departmental group of (veterinary) scientists that investigate aspects of oocyte quality, fertilization, early embryonic development, embryo-maternal communication, and causes of early embryonic death (e.g. aneuploidy). The group has access to modern clinical facilities, a large commercial ART program and state-of-the-art research facilities (IVF lab; confocal, spinning disk and electron microscopy; flow cytometry; next generation sequencing; HPLC and Mass Spectrometry etc.), either directly or via collaboration within the university. The candidate will join a team (equine reproduction group) of 4 researcher/clinicians, 3 laboratory assistants, and other PhD and Masters students.
The student will enroll in the University’s PhD program ‘Cancer, Stem Cells and Development’, and be encouraged to develop a network within and beyond the University. The position is funded from clinical income, and the successful applicant will, after appropriate training, be expected to support the clinical equine assisted reproduction program by performing relevant laboratory-based procedures (e.g. oocyte searching, embryo freezing and thawing) for an average of 1 day per week (0,2 fte) and will participate in a 1 in 4 rota to cover embryo thawing in weekends and public holidays during the breeding season (March-August).

You are an enthusiastic and motivated young scientist or veterinarian and have a degree (preferably a Master’s degree) that allows you to be registered for a PhD. You have proven affinity for laboratory-based research in the field of reproduction, cell culture or extracellular vesicle biology. You are a flexible team player interested in working in a multi-disciplinary team.

The appointment is initially for one year (full-time). Satisfactory progress during the first year will lead to prolongation of the contract for a further three years, to complete the PhD study and produce a dissertation. 
The starting gross salary is €2.541 per month (the PhD student scale within the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). The salary will be supplemented with an ‘out-of-hours’ allowance, a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8,3% per year.
Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions including a minimum of 29 leave days per year, collective insurance options, an excellent pension provision, and flexible employment conditions. For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University .

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University , the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is the only veterinary school in the Netherlands. It employs approximately 900 staff and is one of Europe’s leaders in veterinary education, research and patient-care and is accredited by the European, American and Canadian Veterinary Medical Associations. The faculty organizes its research activities via an Institute of Veterinary Research and participates in the university-wide research program “Life Sciences”. The faculty also provides academic training for veterinarians, researchers and trainee specialists. 
At the Department of Clinical Sciences , you will work alongside approximately 150 veterinarians and a similar number of support staff. Approximately two-thirds of the veterinarians are specialists in various disciplines; the remaining onethird consists of interns, residents and PhD students. Together we are responsible for the education of veterinary students, provision of clinical services to horses and companion animals, and both clinical and more fundamental research in the areas of regenerative medicine, locomotion, genetics and reproduction.
About Utrecht
Utrecht , one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, with a charming old centre and an internationally oriented culture The city with a population of nearly 360,000 is strongly influenced by its century-old university  and forms a hub in the middle of the country. Its ancient city centre and its modern central station can easily be reached from the Utrecht Science Park by public transport or by a 15 minute bicycle ride. Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafés and terraces by the water, as well as a broad variety of shops and boutiques.

For more information about this vacancy/position, please contact Prof T.A.E. Stout (Chair of Equine Medicine and Reproduction), via [email protected] or 31 030 253 11 88 or contact Dr A. Claes (Team Leader Equine Reproduction) via [email protected].
Note that international candidates needing a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. This will be arranged with help of the International Service Desk (ISD) of our university. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. For general questions that you might have about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal where much information can be found.