PhD on ‘Accelerating the transition to animal-free safety assessment’ (1.0 FTE)

Updated: over 1 year ago
Deadline: 16 Oct 2022

PhD on ‘Accelerating the transition to animal-free safety assessment’ (1.0 FTE)
PhD on ‘Accelerating the transition to animal-free safety assessment’ (1.0 FTE)
Published Deadline Location
today 16 Oct Utrecht

This position focuses on how the animal-free Next Generation Risk Assessment methodology is applicable for the safety of new chemicals.
Job description

As a PhD student at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University) you will work in close collaboration with the partners in the transdisciplinary consortium on the project “Accelerating the transition to animal-free Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA): A transformative governance approach”, funded as part of the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). The aim of this research project is to contribute to the acceleration of the transition to animal-free safety assessment for chemicals and pharmaceuticals in the EU, including the Netherlands, and the USA. To achieve this aim, it applies a transformative governance approach.
The consortium will experiment with transformative governance approaches to accelerate the transition through action research. As a PhD student, you would play a central role in the project, working together with a postdoc and another PhD candidate, based at the Nijmegen School of Management at Radboud University.
Your research will focus on analyzing the evidence on how the animal-free Next Generation Risk Assessment methodology is relevant and applicable for deciding on the safety of new chemicals and drugs. This includes researching what is needed for obtaining acceptance and general use in regulatory settings for chemicals and pharmaceuticals in the Netherlands, the EU and the USA. Next to this, it will be studied how ‘higher tier models’ like human organoids from kidney, liver and intestinal tissue can be added to the NGRA pathway.
We are looking for a colleague who is passionate about animal and sustainability issues – a researcher who wants to make a difference and wants to contribute to the transition to animal-free innovations.


Specifications
  • 36—40 hours per week
  • €2541—€3247 per month
  • Utrecht View on Google Maps

Utrecht University


Requirements

What do you bring?

  • A higher education background such as a Master's degree in biomedical sciences and/or social sciences;
  • interdisciplinary research experience: e.g. combining biomedical sciences with social sciences;
  • excellent English language skills in speaking and academic writing;
  • proven ability to collaborate in inter- and transdisciplinary teams;
  • excellent creative and analytical problem-solving skills, able to balance pragmatic and idealistic thinking when designing solutions;
  • able to challenge ideas in a professional and constructive manner in order to achieve a better outcome;
  • enjoy working in a dynamic and innovative research environment;
  • excellent communication skills, verbally as well as in writing.

Conditions of employment

We offer a temporary position (1.0 FTE) for one year in an international working environment. The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience  - ranges between €2,541 and €3,247 in the fourth year of employment (scale P according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. After a positive evaluation, the agreement will be extended for another three years. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year.
In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University .


Employer

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 has a unique position in the Netherlands. Not only is this the only institution where veterinarians are trained, researchers are also working together on innovative scientific research. In addition, the faculty provides specialist clinical care in the largest academic veterinary hospital in Europe. Thanks to this position, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is a point of contact for all veterinary matters, both nationally and increasingly internationally. The faculty employs approximately 900 veterinarians, scientists and support staff and counts 1,500 students.
The Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) is an inter-faculty research institute within the Faculties Veterinary Medicine, and Medicine of Utrecht University. Its mission is to provide education and research on the human and environmental health risks of exposure to potentially harmful agents in the environment where research takes place within the domains of Toxicology, Environmental Epidemiology and Veterinary Public Health.


Additional information
For more information about this position, please contact Prof. M. Ritskes-Hoitinga  via [email protected] or Petra Barendregt via [email protected] .
Working at Utrecht University

At Utrecht University, we work together towards a better future for all of us. You are invited to contribute to a better world.


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