Job description

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, of which the cause is still unknown, the course is highly unpredictable and disability progression is inevitable.

We are looking for a highly motivated computational biologist to design workflows and tools to connect multidimensional (genetic, immunological, clinical and radiological) data of people with MS at different stages of their disease and develop this as a computational approach to track down (and thus treat) progression as early as possible. You will create a bioinformatics and computational environment based on machine learning algorithms that contributes to the generation of innovative and reproducible parameters that take our patient-oriented research to the next level.

You will work in a multi-disciplinary team involving neurologists, immunologists and other biological experts to solve questions and discover features relevant for the clinical course of MS using your bioinformatics expertise. In-house genetic, serology, radiological and clinical data will be processed, interrogated, visualized and integrated with state-of-the art single cell (lymphocyte) transcriptome and phenotype datasets to create a computational signature for 'smoldering' MS.

Work environment

ErasMS is the MS Center of the Erasmus MC and is one of the three national academic referral centers for providing medical care and advice to people with MS and other inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system. Within ErasMS, our mission is to understand MS across the lifespan, enabling us to prevent and cure this disease. We prospectively follow cohorts of patients with for example pediatric demyelinating disease, relapsing or progressive MS, and NMO-SD/MOG-AD. We aim to find new biological determinants of disease outcomes. To achieve this task, we are continuously collecting clinical, radiological, genetic, virological and immunological data from our different cohorts for now more than 15 years at the Departments of Neurology and Immunology, also in collaboration with the Departments of Viroscience and Clinical Genetics at the Erasmus MC. Our center is a member of multiple international MS consortia using big data (e.g. International MS Genetics Consortium 'IMSGC', EU-Health program 'BEHIND-MS' and federated learning MS platform 'INTONATE').

The Department of Immunology performs cutting-edge basic and translational research on different immune-related disorders, including immunodeficiencies, autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders and cancer. It participates in patient care by performing laboratory diagnostics (Laboratory for Medical Immunology), supports Clinical Immunology and has an international environment with employees and students from many countries.

As bioinformatician of MS center ErasMS, you will be part of the NeuroImmunology Brain (NIB) research group (Department of Immunology), which is a dynamic team of enthusiastic researchers (3 postdocs, 3 PhD students, 2 technicians) who collaborate with neurologists (in training) across highly translational and complementary projects. Furthermore, you will share your experience and discuss results with the Computational and Bioinformatics research group of Dr. ir. Harmen van de Werken (Department of Immunology).

Qualifications and skills

• A PhD degree in Informatics, Bioinformatics or a related field.
• Postdoctoral experience in (Bio)informatics, Statistics or Computer Science. A background in (Neuro)immunology is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated excellent programming skills in Python or Java and in workflow management systems such as Nextflow. You should have proven experience in relational databases management systems, such as MySQL or PostgreSQL, in statistical computer language R and in Linux operating system.
• Expertise in analyses of whole genome sequencing data or other large omics datasets is a prerequisite.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, possess excellent communication and technical writing skills and is able to work independently and as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.

Before you apply please check our conditions for employment.

Terms of employment

• You will receive a temporary position for 2 years.
• The gross monthly salary amounts a maximum of € 5.295,- (scale 10).
• Excellent fringe benefits, such as a 13th month that is already paid out in November and a individual travel expense package.
• Working from home is optional.
• An International Office which aids you in preparing for you arrival and stay.
• Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 2/3 of the monthly contribution.
• Special benefits, such as a incompany physiotherapist and bicycle repairer. And there is also a gym where you can work on your fitness after work.

More information

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. M.M. van Luijn, Assistent Professor via m.vanluijn@erasmusmc.nl. If you are excited by the thought of this position and would like to apply, please do so by using the application form on our website.

No agencies please.