Postdoctoral Researcher in Belgium on "Exploring calcium transport in the intestine to preserve bone mass" | KU Leuven

For Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology we are looking for a motivated postdoctoral researcher who wants to join us in our research on bone biology and calcium homeostasis.

The candidate will be welcomed in our multidisciplinary, basic/translational research team, which focuses on unraveling the cellular and molecular processes governing the close interactions between bone biology and calcium homeostasis, with the aim to optimize therapeutic calcium supplementation and prevent bone loss. The project will be conducted under supervision of Prof. Dr. Geert Carmeliet (Biomedical Sciences Group).

Responsibilities

Intestinal calcium absorption is essential for the prevention of bone loss in the aging population and in patients with chronic kidney disease and gastrointestinal pathology. Therefore, calcium and vitamin D supplementation is widely used as an essential part of anti-osteoporotic therapy. However, this therapy is still confronted with issues of safety, compliance, and limited efficacy.

Using several transgenic mouse strains, we observed that vitamin D supplementation without adequate intestinal calcium transport has deleterious effects on bone. To develop novel therapeutic strategies, a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of intestinal calcium absorption is required. In addition, we postulate that insufficient calcium transport is already sensed in the gut and will elicit an adaptive response to preserve normocalcemia.

The current postdoctoral project focuses on deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying intestinal calcium transport and calcium sensing using global gene expression profiling as well as by a candidate gene approach. The functional relevance of the identified proteins will be investigated in normal and pathological conditions as well as during anti-osteoporotic treatment using several pre-clinical mouse models. This multimodal approach will lead to novel insights in the mechanisms responsible for calcium sensing and transport and will contribute to the optimization of current therapies or to the development of novel treatment modalities. The proposed project will combine cellular, biochemical and molecular techniques as well as animal experiments. You will work in close collaboration with other members of the lab (Post-doc, PhD students, technicians). This project is also embedded in a broader platform, in which you will collaborate with different researchers experienced in gastroenterology and nephrology.

Profile

You hold a PhD degree in (Bio-)medical sciences, Pharmaceutical sciences, Bio-engineering, or Biochemistry. The applicant should have strong knowledge of molecular biology, cell biology and cell culture, histology and integrative physiology. You should have good social and communicative skills and a solid knowledge of English.

Offer

We are offering a full-time postdoctoral position for 3 years. Funding is foreseen, application for an additional external grant is highly stimulated. The salary will be according to the university salary scales of post-doctoral researcher depending on the level of experience.

Interested?

For more information or to apply for this position please contact Prof. dr. Geert Carmeliet, tel.: +3216330731, mail: Αυτή η διεύθυνση Email προστατεύεται από τους αυτοματισμούς αποστολέων ανεπιθύμητων μηνυμάτων. Χρειάζεται να ενεργοποιήσετε τη JavaScript για να μπορέσετε να τη δείτε. or Mrs. Lieve Verlinden, tel.: +3216347145, mail: Αυτή η διεύθυνση Email προστατεύεται από τους αυτοματισμούς αποστολέων ανεπιθύμητων μηνυμάτων. Χρειάζεται να ενεργοποιήσετε τη JavaScript για να μπορέσετε να τη δείτε.. Applications should be sent by email and include your CV with detailed information on education and grades, past research positions and publications. In addition, a motivation letter and references' contact information relevant to your research or training should be included.

You can apply for this job no later than October 31, 2013 via the online application tool.