PhD: Endocrine disruption of zebrafish brain and sensory organ development

This PhD project is part of the EU MSCA Doctoral Network NeXED (www.nexed.eu). It will be hosted by the section Environmental Health and Toxicology at the Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (https://vu.nl/en/about-vu/faculties/faculty-of-science/more-about/enviro...). The section focuses on understanding the influence of environmental factors on human and environmental health. Its interdisciplinary approach integrates (eco)toxicology, risk assessment, and epidemiology to study contaminants from the molecular level to populations and society. The work includes toxicological hazard characterization through toxicity profiling and studies on toxicological mechanisms using in vitro, cell-based assays and zebrafish embryo and nematode models.

This 3-year PhD project is supervised by Lisa Baumann and will investigate how thyroid hormone system disruptors (THSDs) (and their mixtures) can interfere with neurodevelopment, namely brain and sensory organs, in zebrafish embryos. Impaired neurodevelopment is the priority adverse health effect of THSDs in humans, while it has not been sufficiently addressed from that perspective in fish. Previous has demonstrated that zebrafish eye development is sensitive to THSDs (see AOP#363). Within this project, this previous work will be substantially extended by investigating the impact of THSDs on other sensory organs like the lateral line and the olfactory epithelium of zebrafish. Moreover, the effects of THSDs (and their mixtures) on brain development and specific nervous cells will be studied. The work will include exposure experiments with transgenic zebrafish embryos and subsequent analyses of brain and sensory organ development using (confocal) microscopy, histopathology, behaviour assays and different molecular techniques.

The following external research stays are planned:

• Interdisciplinary secondment: Jean-Baptiste Fini (2 months) at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France)
• Intersectoral secondment: David Du Pasquier (2 weeks) at Watchfrog (Private contract laboratory, France)
• Intersectoral secondment: Ellen Hessel (1 month) at RIVM (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, Netherlands)

Requirements:

You will:

• Independently perform the experimental work required for this project (after technical instruction)
• Actively contribute to the project development and planning, in collaboration with your co-workers and PI
• Enrol in the PE&RC graduate school (https://www.pe-rc.nl) and comply with the doctoral training requirements
• Write project reports on a regular basis, and publish high-quality research results related to the research project in international conference proceedings and peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Participate actively in the NeXED training, dissemination, communication and exploitation activities.
• Work actively on the preparation and defence of a doctoral thesis in the field of Environmental Toxicology
• Engage with and further support a limited number of teaching activities for the section Environmental Health and Toxicology of the Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment.

In addition to the general eligibility and selection criteria of the NeXED Doctoral Network,

• A 3-year PhD trajectory at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is only possible if:
  
  • The candidate has completed an accredited Research Master prior to the PhD trajectory or the candidate has comparable qualifications, as demonstrated by their curriculum.
  • This requires that the MSc degree amounts to at least 120 ECTS and that at least 60 ECTS has been spent on research preparation within the programme that ties in with the theme of the PhD trajectory to be followed.
• MSc degree in (Eco)Toxicology, Developmental Biology, Neurobiology, Molecular Biology or a related field.
• Good wet lab experimental skills, preferably including experience with (zebra)fish (eco)toxicology work
• Experience with the following laboratory techniques is not required but will be considered a benefit: confocal microscopy, histopathology, behavior assays, transcriptomics
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English at a level appropriate to scientific research

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore, we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

Salary Benefits:

• The selected candidate will be employed full-time by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam on the MSCA-DN project for a period of 36 months.
• Doctoral candidates are offered an employment contract for full-time employment, with a competitive remuneration based on the MSCA allowances in line with the MSCA WP 2023-2025.
• The gross monthly amount at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam corresponds to minimum € 3,378 and maximum € 3,707 (PhD) in the third (last) year. Fringe benefits include a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment, 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Funding is available for technical and personal skills training and participation in international research events.
• The expected start date is between July-October 2025. Last-year master students expected to graduate by this time are encouraged to already apply.
• Read more about working at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam here: https://workingat.vu.nl

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