Postdoctoral researcher intranasal vaccine formulations - Geneesmiddelenleer

Organisation/Company Ghent University Research Field Engineering » Biomedical engineering Engineering » Chemical engineering Medical sciences » Other Pharmacological sciences » Other Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Final date to receive applications 12 Feb 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programs grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

YOUR TASKS

This postdoctoral position is part of an academic–industry collaboration between Ghent University (Prof. Koen Raemdonck) and GSK focused on the development of safe, stable and effective intranasal vaccine formulations.

The research team of Prof. Koen Raemdonck (Full Professor) is embedded in the Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines at the laboratory for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Ghent University. The group is a world-leading research lab on macromolecular drug delivery by nanomedicines. The lab hosts 6 professors and their multidisciplinary research teams, with on average 45 researchers with diverging scientific backgrounds, who collaborate closely on a daily basis.

You will be part of a dynamic, pluralistic and multidisciplinary team that is highly motivated to perform high-level research on drug delivery.

The purpose of GSK is to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. GSK is a global healthcare company with strengths in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, oncology, and general medicines. Its R&D teams focus on transformative science in areas such as immunology, oncology, infectious diseases and respiratory health, while its commercial and manufacturing teams ensure safe, reliable access to essential medicines worldwide.

The successful candidate will lead the design, preparation, characterization, and optimization of nanoformulations intended for intranasal vaccine delivery. They will develop and perform in vitro and ex vivo assays relevant to intranasal administration, including mucoadhesion and penetration studies, antigen release profiling, mucosal barrier interaction, and cellular uptake in respiratory epithelial and antigen-presenting cell models. Additionally, the candidate will contribute to the design and interpretation of preclinical in vivo studies, while maintaining rigorous standards of documentation, data management, and quality control to support translational efforts and potential regulatory interactions.

Responsibilities also include preparing research reports, manuscripts, and presentations, as well as actively participating in meetings with academic and industry partners. To be successful in this role the candidate must be able to interpret and clearly communicate complex scientific data to diverse audiences, including technical peers and external opinion leaders. They should combine creative problem solving with rigorous analytical thinking, demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, and perform effectively under pressure in a fast-paced research environment.

Excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills are essential, with a proven record of contributing constructively as a team player.

The postdoc is expected to spend the majority of their time at the GSK Rixensart site, with a portion of their work conducted at Ghent University.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

PhD (obtained) in pharmaceutical sciences, nanomedicine, chemical engineering, biopharmacy, biomedical sciences or closely related…