PhD in Mathematical Modelling of Antimicrobial-Resistant Gonorrhoea

Attention!!

This vacancy is not a position with the Municipality of Amsterdam or GGD Amsterdam. If selected, you will be employed directly by Amsterdam UMC Research BV, which will be responsible for your employment contract and terms and conditions of employment.

About the project

The RESIST project addresses the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. NG is among the few pathogens that has developed resistance to every first-line antibiotic used against it. Treatment failures with current first-line therapies have already been reported.

This PhD project focuses on the within-host emergence of antimicrobial resistance. You will investigate how resistance develops within individuals, with specific attention to differences between anatomical sites, where antibiotic exposure and interactions with commensal Neisseria species may vary.

By combining mathematical modelling with microbiological and epidemiological data from Dutch sexual health clinics, you will identify key mechanisms that drive resistance emergence. Your findings will contribute to the broader RESIST project, which aims to improve our understanding of resistant gonorrhoea and support strategies to limit its spread.

About the role

As a PhD candidate, you will develop innovative modelling approaches to better understand the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in gonorrhoea infections. You will work closely with experts from multiple disciplines and contribute to research with direct relevance for public health policy and infectious disease control.

Your responsibilities include:

• developing a within-host mathematical model of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection;
• calibrating and validating the model using microbiological data;
• analysing longitudinal data from the Amsterdam Cohort Studies to investigate how antimicrobial resistance develops within individuals over time;
• publishing research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presenting results at scientific conferences;
• collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of modellers, epidemiologists, microbiologists and behavioural scientists.

Profile

We are looking for a motivated and analytical researcher with a strong interest in infectious diseases, public health and mathematical modelling. You have:

• a completed MSc degree, or are close to completing one, in epidemiology, applied mathematics, computational biology, data science or a related field;
• programming experience, preferably in R;
• experience working with large and complex datasets;
• strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment;
• an excellent command of English, both written and spoken.

Our offer

• You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV and based at the Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD Amsterdam).
• A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of four years.
• Holiday hours: 194.4 per year for full time and a possibility to save additional hours.
• 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs. If you travel by foot, bicycle, or car, a mileage allowance of €0.21 per km applies (up to a maximum of 40 km one way by car).
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme.
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.

About the workplace

You will be appointed within the department of Infectious Diseases at GGD Amsterdam.

Within the department of Infectious Diseases, you will join the Research and Prevention Development team. This multidisciplinary team consists of approximately 20 professionals, including PhD candidates, research nurses, data managers and senior researchers.

The team conducts leading epidemiological and social science research on HIV, sexually transmitted infections and other infectious diseases. You will work in a collaborative and supportive environment with ample opportunities for scientific development and close collaboration with academic and public health partners.

Amsterdam UMC Research BV

Amsterdam UMC Research BV supports non-profit scientific research. In doing so, we provide researchers with everything they need to excel. Our principal investigators (PIs) and project leaders offer support in the field of project management, finance and human resources. In medical scientific research projects, legal support is also provided.