PhD Influence of Vegan Diet on Biological Aging

Working at Amsterdam UMC

PhD Influence of Vegan Diet on Biological Aging

Are you an enthusiastic PhD candidate interested in how diet influences health? We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled researcher to join our team investigating the effects of a vegan diet on health and biological aging.

The project

In this PhD project, you will delve into the intricate relationship between diet, especially vegan diet, and health and biological aging. This project will utilize advanced bioinformatic and statistical approaches to integrate epidemiological data and multi-omics analyses. The research focuses on understanding the relationship between a vegan diet and health through two complementary approaches:

1. Cross-Sectional Population-Level Data: Analyze large-scale, established cohort datasets to explore associations between vegan diets, health parameters (e.g., metabolic health, cardiovascular health), and measures of biological aging (e.g., epigenetic aging clocks, blood biochemistry aging clocks). Here you will investigate dietary patterns, lifestyle factors, and their implications for long-term health.

2. Clinical Trial Data: Utilize samples and datasets from clinical trials of vegan diets where multi-omics data have been generated (e.g., genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, microbiomics). Conduct pathway integration to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of vegan diets on health and aging.

About your role

• Perform bioinformatic and statistical analyses to process and integrate multi-omics data and epidemiological datasets;
• Develop and apply innovative approaches to investigate molecular pathways linking vegan diets to health outcomes;
• Work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, including clinical scientists, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and systems biologists;
• Contribute to high-quality publications and present findings at conferences;
• Develop custom data pipelines and workflows;

About you

• Cutting-Edge Research: Work on a pioneering project exploring the impact of vegan diets on health and biological aging using innovative bioinformatic and multi-omics approaches;
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Join a team of experts in metabolism, systems biology, and nutrition science, fostering a rich environment for learning and professional growth;
• Skill Development: Gain hands-on experience with: Advanced statistical modeling and bioinformatic techniques. Multi-omics data integration and pathway analysis. Large-scale cohort and clinical trial data analysis;
• Impactful Contribution: Contribute to research that has the potential to influence dietary recommendations, public health policies, and our understanding of healthy aging;
• Flexible and Inclusive Workplace: Benefit from flexible working arrangements and a commitment to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.

Our offer

• A flying start to your career in scientific research;
• Plenty of room for your drive to shape tomorrow's healthcare;
• Working on large-scale and in-house research, with motivated colleagues from all over the world;
• You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV;
• A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of 4 years. The Guideline PhD contract applies to this vacancy;
• Salary scale OIO: € 3.017 to € 3.824 gross based on full-time employment (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Holiday hours: 190.4 per year for full-time and a possibility to save additional hours;
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension;
• For >7 km each way, 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs and, for private transport, €0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km each way;
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme. Moreover, you will receive a reimbursement of €0.18 per km.

About your workplace

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.

Amsterdam UMC has an open culture. This means that we hope that everyone feels welcome in our organization and that we strive to offer equal opportunities to everyone. We therefore cordially invite all interested parties to respond to this vacancy.

Let’s meet!

During the publication period, applications will be handled continuously. If the vacancy is filled, it will be closed prematurely.

"If you have any questions about this position, please feel free to contact Assistant Professor Dr. Georges Janssens at g.e.janssens@amsterdamumc.nl."

"For more information about the application procedure, please contact Kim Hooijmans, Recruitment advisor, via k.i.m.hooijmans@amsterdamumc.nl."