Junior Postdoctoral Researcher in Cell Engineering

Eyckerman Lab — VIB–UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium

Start date:as of 01/04/2026 |
Final date to receive applications:28 February 2026

VIB is a leading life sciences research institute in Belgium, supported by the Flemish government and embedded within Flemish universities. VIB brings together 2,000+ scientists and staff in 10 research centres, combining pioneering fundamental research with a strong drive to translate discoveries into applications in health, biotechnology and agriculture. Researchers benefit from state-of-the-art core facilities (12 centralized platforms) and an experienced innovation & business team connecting science to industry and supporting spin‑off creation.

Within VIB, the Eyckerman lab creates and applies cutting‑edge technologies to accelerate life sciences research within the Center for Medical Biotechnology and across VIB. Collaborating with biology‑focused teams, we uncover novel biology and open new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Initially focused on tools to study human protein complexes, the lab has expanded to novel screening platforms in human cells for applications such as Deep Mutational Scanning and antibody specificity profiling.

You’ll join a small team advancing a new screening platform focused on therapeutic antibody specificity. The aim is to deploy this newly developed assay for internal and external projects, bringing it up to industry standards. You will

• Develop and optimize the specificity assay for biologics, with technical support.
• Identify and assess innovative applications for the technology, including brainstorming and literature review.
• Coordinate with biopharma partners to streamline development and promote industry adoption.
• Participate in grant writing to secure project funding.

• Ph.D. in life sciences (earned within the past 3 years).
• Required:
  
  experience with human cell line engineering; molecular biology expertise is a plus.
• Excellent English communication skills, supported by publications and presentations.
• Ambitious, motivated, and committed to high professional standards and research valorization.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively.
• Enjoys networking with academic and industry partners.
• Experience in writing research proposals and securing grants is a plus.

• We offer a 12‑month contract and expect candidates to apply for personal research grants.
• Your contract will start on 1/04/2026 at the earliest.
• You will work in a VIB lab located in new facilities in the middle of one of the main biotech hubs in Europe.
• You will become part of a dynamic and enthusiastic team.
• Training programs from UGent and VIB, also including excellent courses on tech transfer and valorization.
• An international working environment in an academic institute that is active at the forefront of life sciences.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art equipment for life science research.

We are looking for candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to VIB’s commitment to diversity and excellence.

Please direct inquiries about the position and suggestions of potential candidates to  Applications must be submitted online via the VIB career portal  before 28 February 2026. Please, provide your CV, 2 reference contacts and a motivation letter.