PhD position: Development of the RSV-specific immune response in early life

Do you have a MSc degree in viro-immunology or a related field and are you excited to make a meaningful impact on the health of newborns? Then this is your opportunity to make a difference!

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a considerable burden on public health. While mostly resulting in a mere common cold in healthy adults, RSV can cause severe disease requiring hospitalization especially in infants and older adults. In 2025, for the first time, all infants in the Netherlands are offered the newly approved monoclonal antibody nirsevimab for the prevention of severe RSV disease as part of the National Immunization Program. This is the first time an antibody is used on such a wide scale for the prevention of an infectious disease. Nirsevimab has been proven to be effective against RSV-associated hospitalization. Nevertheless, protection by antibodies is not absolute and also temporary. In general, there are still many unknowns regarding the immune correlates of protection for RSV. This highlights the need for a better insight into the mechanisms of immunological protection, to support an optimal implementation and monitoring of current and future preventative strategies for RSV. With the proposed project, we aim to increase our understanding of the quality and duration of this passively acquired protection and the subsequent development of the infant’s own immune response following primary RSV infection.

The insights gained from this project will allow us to provide knowledge-based advice on further finetuning the implementation and monitoring of this novel passive immunization strategy in relation to - or in combination with - other vaccination strategies, to protect infants against severe RSV disease even better.

At RIVM, you will contribute to research on the development of the immune response to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in early life. You will work within a multidisciplinary team of immunologists, virologists, epidemiologists, and pediatricians to investigate how infants develop immunity to RSV and how this knowledge can be used to improve prevention strategies.

Main responsibilities

You will investigate the quality and duration of the humoral protection acquired through nirsevimab immunization in young children and the subsequent development of the infants' own humoral and cellular immune response after RSV infection, with specific attention to systemic and local antibody functionality in relation to protection against severe RSV disease.

Your responsibilities include:

• Design an immunological analysis-plan based on available literature and methods, and analyze immunological response data within a specific birth cohort that are offered the newly approved monoclonal antibody nirsevimab, with a one-year follow-up.
• Perform an in-depth analysis of antibody effector functions associated with protection from RSV infection and disease, and the development of the infants' immune response following nirsevimab administration, by the analysis of functional antibody responses and memory T (and B) cell responses at the single cell level; relate immune response profiles to timepoint of primary RSV infection and clinical outcome.
• Systematic literature reviewing of available and ongoing studies related to the immunological correlates of protection related to passive and active immunization against RSV.
• Analyze and interpret data (in collaboration with bioinformaticians), publish in peer-reviewed journals, present the results in the institute and at (inter-)national conferences, and finally prepare a PhD thesis based on your findings.
• Participate as part of a team of immunologists, virologists, epidemiologists, and pediatricians at RIVM and collaborating institutes to provide and translate the public health relevance of your studies.
• Designing and conducting laboratory experiments to study the immune response to RSV in infants.
• Collaborating with national and international partners.
• Presenting research findings at scientific meetings and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

You will be appointed at:

The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has been at the forefront of protecting public health and consumer safety for over a hundred years. RIVM is a knowledge institute that plays a vital role in society, carrying out independent research and providing trusted policy advice to the government regarding health and environmental issues. We address a wide range of topics, including infectious diseases, vaccinations, population studies, lifestyle, nutrition, drugs, the environment, sustainability, and safety. This work is carried out through research, advice, and implementation, with numerous reports published annually.

The Center for Immunology of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines (IIV) at RIVM serves as the government's knowledge center in the field of immunology of infectious diseases and vaccines. The core mission of IIV is to provide information and advice on vaccine effectiveness, vaccination strategies, and immune responses to infectious diseases, supporting government policy and informing the public. Research at IIV focuses on optimizing the effectiveness and safety of current and future vaccination programs, immunosurveillance, age-related efficacy of immune responses, and identifying correlates of protection. The center collaborates intensively with other RIVM knowledge centers and national and international partners specializing in immunology, microbiology, epidemiology, and outbreak control of infectious diseases.

Within IIV, the Department of Immune Mechanisms - Immunological Models (IIM) employs immunological models to support the core mission of IIV.

As a PhD student, you will be academically affiliated with a university in the Netherlands, and will become a member of that university’s Graduate School.

Unique to this job

We are an international, dynamic, and highly motivated team of scientists at various stages of our careers, united by a strong drive to advance immunological research for the benefit of public health. We combine expertise in virology, immunology, and bioinformatics, and we believe in the power of collaboration and teamwork.

What we offer

• A challenging and meaningful PhD project in a dynamic research environment.
• Guidance and support from experienced researchers.
• Opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Arbeidsovereenkomst voor bepaalde tijd met uitzicht op onbepaalde tijd
• Tijdens het promotieonderzoek is je salaris als volgt vastgesteld volgens het Functiegebouw Rijk (FGR): Het eerste jaar € 3.246,16 bruto per maand volgens schaal 8, salaristrede 0. Het tweede jaar volgens schaal 8, salaristrede 5. Het derde jaar volgens schaal 8, salaristrede 7. Het vierde jaar volgens schaal 8, salaristrede 8.

Naast het salaris ontvang je een Individueel Keuzebudget (IKB). Het IKB bestaat uit geld (16,50% van je bruto jaarsalaris) en tijd. Met het IKB maak jij de keuzes die bij jou passen en kun je een deel van je arbeidsvoorwaarden zelf samenstellen. Je kunt er bijvoorbeeld voor kiezen om een deel van je maandinkomen te laten uitbetalen wanneer jij dat wenst. Ook kun je dit budget omzetten in verlof en andersom of besteden aan fiscaal vriendelijke doelen. De Rijksoverheid hecht sterk aan persoonlijke groei en loopbaanontwikkeling en biedt daarvoor tal van mogelijkheden. Tot de secundaire arbeidsvoorwaarden behoren onder meer verschillende studiefaciliteiten, bedrijfsfitness, volledige vergoeding van je OV-reiskosten woon-werkverkeer en gedeeltelijk betaald ouderschapsverlof.

Profile

• Background in infection and immunity or a related field, preferably with previous experience in working with humoral and/or cellular immune responses or immune markers.
• Experience in biological/statistical analyses; affinity with complex data-analyses, including high-dimensional data and multivariable models.
• A strong motivation to work in a multidisciplinary laboratory-based team and contribute to public health.
• A candidate enthusiastic to embark on a journey to generate new knowledge on immune defense mechanisms for RSV and innovations in immunoassays.
• You have a biological, biomedical or medical MSc degree, preferably with a focus on infection and immunity.
• You have experience with statistical analysis, preferably in R, of large datasets in a research context.
• You can collaborate in a diverse team of researchers and laboratory technicians.
• You have good communication skills, oral as well as in writing, in Dutch and English.

About RIVM

RIVM is a leading institute for public health and the environment in the Netherlands. Our mission is to promote public health and safeguard the environment through scientific research and advice. Als Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) zijn we een deskundige, betrouwbare en onafhankelijke adviseur voor overheid, professionals en burgers. Ons doel: een gezonde bevolking en een duurzame, veilige en gezonde leefomgeving. We bewaken gezondheid, ziekten, de kwaliteit van de leefomgeving én het milieu. Daarvoor doen we onderzoek en we verzamelen kennis voor toegankelijke informatie en toepasbare adviezen. Het RIVM zorgt voor een goede geboortescreening, het bestrijden van infectieziekten en heeft een centrale rol bij het Rijksvaccinatieprogramma en de bevolkingsonderzoeken. We onderzoeken wat er nodig is voor goede zorg, een gezonde leefstijl, veilige producten en een veilige en gezonde leefomgeving. Ook dragen we bij aan het voorkomen, bestrijden en beheersen van incidenten en crises.

Terwijl we druk de verhuizing voorbereiden naar een prachtig nieuw gebouw op het Utrecht Science Park, werken we op ons huidige hoofdkantoor in Bilthoven met ongeveer 3000 collega’s aan al onze adviezen, rapporten, factsheets en publicaties. Daarbij laten we ons leiden door de vragen van vandaag én morgen. We doen ons werk midden in de maatschappij.

More information
Are you interested in this PhD-position? Address your application to Jørgen de Jonge, department head of Immune Mechanisms - Immunological Models (IIM). Do you have questions first? Then please contact the responsible project leaders Puck van Kasteren (puck.van.kasteren@rivm.nl, +31 6 311 423 91) or Rob van Binnendijk (rob.van.binnendijk@rivm.nl). We look forward to hearing from you.

Bijzonderheden

A valid vaccination is mandatory for this role.