Vacancy Junior Researcher | Postdoc 'Translating model-informed dosing and Implementing guidelines with MADAM Group'

Job description

Are you passionate about improving drug safety for children and pregnant women? Join our team as a junior researcher / postdoc to translate model-informed dosing recommendations into (inter)national guidelines and collaborate with the MADAM group.

Many drugs in children and pregnant women are prescribed off-label. Their efficacy and safety have not been adequately studied in these populations. Hence, children and pregnant women, and their fetuses, are at an increased risk of therapy failure or toxicity reactions. Ultimately, we aim to generate dosing guidelines for children and pregnant women, without having to conduct clinical trials.

In this project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we aim to explore the use of physiology-based pharmacokinetic modeling to establish best-evidence doses for children and pregnant women. Moreover, we will work on implementing these newly generated dosing recommendations by integrating them into (inter)national guidelines.

You are expected to work within our interdisciplinary team consisting of clinical scientists, PK modelers, and pharmacists. You will work on the translation of model-informed dosing recommendations and the implementation of the dosing recommendations in (inter)national guidelines by working with the MADAM group and generating content for the Melinda website. You will not be involved in hands-on modeling activities.

You will be embedded in an enthusiastic research group consisting of PhD students, research technicians, clinical scientists, PK modelers, and pharmacists to answer questions related to the efficacy and safety of drugs, for which personalized dosing is highly needed. This will ensure proper guidance and will allow you to build professional experience in this emerging field.

Tasks and responsibilities

• You will work with output derived from complex Physiology based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) and population pharmacokinetic (PK) models using our developed implementation framework to develop clinical dosing guidelines.
• Explore the use of AI and/or machine-learning to support modeling and/or informing dosing guidelines
• Prepare, organize and report the MADAM working committee meetings
• Work with Radboud PBPK scientists, pharmacists and clinicians to define critical questions that can be used to optimize the current models.
• Collaborate with our (inter)national connections from the Dutch Pediatric Formulary, Dutch Teratology Information Service, the scientific teams from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other researchers.
• Contribute to (international) workshops aimed at non-modelers to show the value of PBPK modeling in drug development and clinical practice.
• Prepare presentations and progress reports for scientific discussions internally, as well as externally with (international) scientists.
• Presenting of outcomes at (international) conferences. Writing of scientific abstracts and papers.
• Supervise bachelor and/or master students during their scientific internship, advise PhD students (minor task).

Place of work

The position is available within the Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology. The department has three main tasks: research, education, and clinical consultation that all contribute to our mission of improving the safe and effective use of medicines and improve treatment of intoxications.

The Department of Pharmacy's research activities focus on the following research areas: special populations: Pediatrics and Obstetrics, pharmacology of antimicrobial agents (antiretrovirals, antifungals, antibiotics, and tuberculosis drugs) and oncology drugs and sustainable pharmacy.

Furthermore, the Department houses a state-of-the-art bioanalytical laboratory, a preclinical laboratory focused on drug transport and toxicity and an excellent pharmacometrics (PBPK and popPK) group. We have strong national and international collaborations to unravel translational pharmacological research questions.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where our research groups strive for innovative solutions that make impact on health and healthcare. We challenge the status quo to overcome current and future health challenges. Our goal is to shape the future of healthcare for generations to come. Our focus is on prevention, sustainability, and meaningful care, which we achieve through our in-depth understanding of disease mechanisms, clinical science, public health research, medical technology and data science. Our approach is centered on breakthroughs that can truly enhance personalized healthcare and public health. 

At Radboudumc, a comprehensive range of research programs provide the compass for our research efforts. Each program has a clear goal, where collaboration within and outside our organization is highly valued. We integrate care, education and research in partnership with our patients to ensure that our research programs have significant impact on health and healthcare. We invite you to join us in our mission to create a healthy future for all.

Profile

We are looking for a junior researcher or postdoc with the following profile: 

• Completed MSc or PhD degree in (Bio)Medical/Pharmaceutical Sciences or comparable  field.
• Previous experience with modeling, specifically Pop-PK or PBPK-modelsis a plus.
• Good communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and/or pediatrics, obstetrics would be advantageous.
• Work according to FAIR principles.
• Teamplayer.
• Willing to work in the office at least 2-3 days per week.
• Valid current working visa EU. If you are not a EU citizen please provide nationality and visa status.

Employment conditions

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• A gross monthly salary between € 3.493 and € 5.504 (scale 10) for full-time employment (36 hours per week). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and, depending on the position, an allowance of 47% to 72% for working irregular hours.
• 172 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. (As of 1 January 2025, you will receive 176 vacation hours).

And there is more..

• An Employment Conditions Selection Model, allowing you to use part of your employment conditions to your choosing. For example, you can use your gross salary to purchase additional vacation hours or hours for providing informal caregiving. Or, for example, you can use your gross end-of-year bonus to purchase a bicycle, so you pay less tax.
• Plenty of opportunities for personal development. You can take a variety of courses in our online learning environment. 
• Your well-being and vitality are a priority. For example:
  • Save time for work-life balance leave. 
  • You can enjoy unlimited access to a variety of activities five days a month and take advantage of all the facilities at Radboud Sport & Culture for only €27.05 per month (instead of €41)
  • Healthy Professionals program to help you manage your energy. 
  • Company Support Team and a personal coach if you are going through a life-changing event.
  • Financially beneficial working less through a Generation Scheme as you approach state pension age.
• Support in achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. Examples:
  • Advice and courses on, for example, 'Millennial dilemmas' and 'Your Career After 57'.
  • Activities at our own mindfulness center.
  • Informal caregiving consultations if you have questions about juggling work and caregiving responsibilities at home.
• In addition to statutory pregnancy and maternity leave, Radboud university medical center offers 26 weeks of parental leave, nine of which are paid. In addition, as a partner you can take a maximum of five weeks of supplementary partner leave. During supplementary partner leave and parental leave, we supplement the UWV benefit up to 100% of your salary.
• Pension accrual at the ABP Pension Fund. Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. 
• Discounts on supplementary packages of two group health insurances and ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• An allowance for your commuting costs of € 0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km one way. If you use public transport to commute, we will fully reimburse the public transport costs (2nd class). If you regularly work from home, you will receive a working from home allowance of € 2.35 per day.

Application procedure

Are you ready to think further for our patients and our care? We would like to receive your application before 3 December 2024. We will then contact you shortly.

Good to know

• This position requires a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).
• You can find more information about our application procedure and frequently asked questions on our website.
• Will you be our new colleague? Then you will be given the time and space to get to know your role, your workplace, and your colleagues. An induction day for all new colleagues is an integral part of your onboarding program. 

We are recruiting for this position ourselves. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated, but do feel free to share the vacancy in your network!

Contact

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then send a message to prof.dr. Saskia de Wildt, full professor and/or dr. Rick Greupink, assistant professor. Use the Apply button to submit your application.