1 Postdoctoral Research position in Quantitative In Vitro-In Vivo Extrapolation in Netherlands | Utrecht University

The Toxicology Division of the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) is looking for a postdoctoral fellow for 2.5 years. The fellow will work in a multidisciplinary research team with cell biologists, modellers and analytical chemists on the Risk-IT project funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW). The project is a systems toxicology project where high throughput in vitro pharmacodynamics as well as pharmacokinetics data and physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling are integrated to predict repeat dose toxicity in the kidney. The aim of the project is to contribute to the 3Rs principle in toxicology (refinement, reduction and replacement of animal testing) by developing a ready-to-use battery of in vitro cell assays predictive of nephrotoxicity for use in drug and chemical safety assessment. The postdoctoral fellow will be closely involved in the project’s decision-making process. The project’s partners include University of Wuerzburg, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, and BASF. The postdoctoral fellow will closely collaborate with these partners and travel to these organisations is expected. The specific tasks of the fellow include the assessment of internal cell concentrations of model chemicals in in vitro cell assays over time to assess the utility of using internal as opposed to nominal concentration-time profiles in in vitro assays for quantitative in vitro-in vivo extrapolations (QIVIVE). Secondly, the fellow will use, modify and build PBPK models to extrapolate in vitro effect concentrations of model chemicals in newly developed in vitro nephrotoxicity assays to human-relevant dosing regimens leading to repeat dose nephrotoxicity.

Requirements

• We are looking for an ambitious postdoctoral fellow with a strong interest in cross-disciplinary research;
• A PhD in pharmacology, toxicology, computational biology or related discipline is required;
• Knowledge of PBPK modelling is strongly advised;
• A background in cell culture and analytical chemistry is recommended.

Conditions of employmentWe offer a full-time position for 30 months starting April 1, 2016 (adjustable if necessary) with an evaluation in the first year. Employment conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement of the Dutch Universities. Based on the experience and qualifications of the candidate, the gross monthly salary is between € 2532,- and € 3997,- (salary scales 10) on a full-time basis. The salary is supplemented by a holiday allowance of 8% per year and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.