Post-doctoral clinical research fellow Clinical Helminthology- 50%

More than 500 staff members at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) contribute every day to improving the health of millions of people worldwide. Our researchers conduct more than 100 scientific projects in the fields of tropical medicine and international health. Our teaching staff welcomes more than 500 professionals from around the world each academic year to attend our highly regarded medical courses. Tens of thousands of travel and STI consultations take place in our clinic each year, and our internationally recognized reference laboratories examine many hundreds of thousands of samples. 

There is only one way we can accomplish these very diverse tasks: thanks to a great passion for our mission.  

ITM’s Department of Clinical Sciences strives for optimal diagnosis, treatment and prevention of tropical and globalized infectious diseases. The department has long-standing expertise in clinical research on treatments, vaccines, and diagnostics for infectious diseases, mainly in lower-resource settings, but also in Belgium. The Unit of Tropical Medicine is one of the older units of the ITM and supports the core activities of the Department of Clinical Sciences. Nowadays, the Unit is led by prof. Emmanuel Bottieau. It  aims of conducting clinical research on a large set of tropical syndromes and infections. The 3 main current research lines of the Unit consist of (1) Malaria and febrile illness; (2) Clinical helminthology; and (3) Clinical decision-making in challenging syndromes in the tropics and in travelers. There is an institutional plan to open a ZAP position (Professorship) to lead a new Unit of Clinical Helminthology.

We are looking for a motivated research fellow to support the Tropical Medicine Unit and participate in current research activities, on a postdoctoral level. This 50% FTE position will focus on the research line on Clinical Helminthology, while another 50% FTE scientist will work more specifically on Malaria and Febrile Illness.

Assignment

·       You will mainly work as a research fellow in the Unit of Tropical Medicine. You contribute to the other core academic tasks of the unit within ITM: capacity building, education and training, in support of the Head of Unit.

·       Your work focuses on clinical helminthology. You will support and reinforce research activities in the field of tropical diseases, in collaboration with other actors within and outside our institution.

·       Your research will focus mainly on line (2) clinical helminthology, in which a strong research track on schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis and cysticercosis already exists. You have the perspective of developing additional activities in vector-borne nematodiases (filariasis). You work together with our partnering countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (DR Congo, Guinea, Ethiopia), as well as in Belgium/Europe and other continents.

·       You will also work on improving clinical decision-making in helminthiases care in varied settings.  

·       You will manage research projects, which includes grant writing, project planning, coordination, implementation, and data analysis.

·       You will work closely together with researchers from other disciplines. You guide and support junior colleagues, including master and PhD students.

·       You will work in close contact with the clinical team of the ITM travel clinic and the University Hospital of Antwerp. Participation to clinical activities may considered, but the core tasks will be academic.

·       You will regularly perform short missions to partnering countries for training, implementation of research activities or potentiall contribute to outbreak investigations, in collaboration with other ITM’s units

·       You will develop new ideas and projects in collaboration with the partners in the South and European consortia of travel clinics/tropical institutes.

·       You will write reports and contribute to scientific publications.

·       You will contribute to grant applications for research funding.

·       You will build up and maintain a network of internal and external contacts beyond your own specialist field, in particular with several ITM’s clinical, biomedical and public health units (such as  Helminthology, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Eco-epidemiology,…).

Profile

·       You are a medical doctor, specialized in Infectious Diseases, with an additional diploma in Tropical Medicine or Global Health.

·       You hold a PhD diploma in the field of Infectious Diseases or related disciplines.

·       You have a scientific track record, including publications, project formulation and fund raising in the field of infectious diseases. Previous research activities in the field of parasitology/helminthology are a strong asset.

·       You have experience in collecting, managing, and analyzing clinical or epidemiological data. An additional specialization in epidemiology, biostatistics, or clinical trials is an asset.

·       You have clinical experience in Europe and in low-resource settings and possess strong cross-cultural competencies. Experience in clinical decision-making in varied settings is an asset.

·       You are flexible to travel on a short-term notice and are comfortable working in remote and challenging settings

·       You are a strong team player and open to multi-disciplinary work.

·       You are quality-driven and result-orientated with robust conceptual, analytical and communicative skills.

·       You are fluent in English (at least C1) and French (at least B1); knowledge of Dutch, Spanish or other languages is an asset.     

Offer

The Institute of Tropical Medicine is committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive institute. We strive for excellence and relevance, integrity, sustainability, persistence and fairness. Your assignment contributes to the socially relevant mission of the ITM. We value human dignity and diversity, academic creativity and a critical spirit, solidarity and cooperation. We take care of the well-being of employees, students, patients and clients.

The ITM offers you:

·       A 50% contract of 1 year, renewable.

·       Starting date: as soon as possible.

·       A collegial working environment with attention to work-life balance and individual growth and development.

·       A workplace in the middle of the vibrant city of Antwerp, easily accessible by public transport.

·       A salary set according to the pay scales of ITM and the Flemish universities and to your work experience with some supplementary benefits, such as private pension scheme and meal voucher subscription.

·       An immigration and relocation assistance package, if applicable.