PhD on LINE-1 with application of FWO fellowship

You will work within the interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine research facility at 0&N5bis within the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences.

The group is led by Prof. Z. Debyser. The facilities are state of the art and we provide a renowned training environment.

We are now looking for an ambitious and highly motivated PhD student to work on a new and challenging project to understand and treat aberrant LINE-1 retrotransposition in human disease.

We do ask that you apply for an FWO fellowship in March 2027.

Unit website

Project

Our research group is internationally renowned for its research on HIV host factors. We identified LEDGF/p75 and Transportin-SR2 as cofactors for HIV integration and nuclear import. We have recently extended this research to LINE-1, a human retrotransposon implicated in human neuroinflammatory diseases. Drawing on parallels with the retroviral replication cycle, we identified host factors involved in LINE-1 transposition. This PhD project builds upon that work. Specifically, we are investigating the mechanisms by which these host factors facilitate LINE-1 transposition. In addition, we are seeking inhibitors of LINE-1 transposition in both cell culture and animal models. The research also utilizes human neuronal cultures derived from iPSCs and mouse models.

Profile

• Master's degree in biomedical, pharmaceutical or biochemical sciences. Master of Medicine or Veterinary Medicine, Bioengineering.
• Motivated to work in a group on a new line of research. Previous knowledge (master thesis) in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, computer science and/or histology are assets. Expertise in working with lab animals (mice) is a bonus.

Offer

We offer a PhD project, supervision and bench fees.

We can fund already the first year, but application and defense of a FWO fellowship in 2027 is required.

Candidate should be eligible for FWO criteria (TOP 20 student) and have a Master Degree from a European university.

Without Master from a European University the application will not be accepted.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Zeger Debyser, mail: zeger.debyser@kuleuven.be or Mrs. Kune Herrebosch, mail: kune.herrebosch@kuleuven.be.

You can apply for this job no later than December 24, 2026 via the online application tool

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