PhD project \"Modulation of inflammatory Dendritic cell subsets in atherosclerosis

PhD candidate for the project "Modulation of inflammatory Dendritic cell subsets in atherosclerosis"

Vacancy number: 16917

Job type:
PhD positions

Contract hours min: 38

Contract hours max: 38

Applying is possible up to and including: 31 October 2026

The Faculty of Science and the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) are looking for a:

PhD candidate for the project “Modulation of inflammatory Dendritic cell subsets in atherosclerosis”

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease where atherosclerotic plaques develop in the larger arteries. Atherosclerosis is the underlying pathology of cardiovascular disease events such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Currently, treatment focusses on lipid-lowering interventions, which do not target the chronic inflammation that causes plaque instability and major acute cardiovascular events. Therefore, studying the immune cells that contribute to atherosclerotic plaque destabilization may lead to novel therapeutic targets and intervention strategies.

In this project, we aim to investigate how inflammatory myeloid cell populations, with a focus on dendritic cell subsets contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis. Dendritic cells act as directors of the immune response by activating T cells and may thus fuel the ongoing chronic inflammatory response in advanced atherosclerosis. We aim to investigate novel mechanisms and identify new targets for more targeted therapeutic intervention.

The aim of your PhD project is to obtain novel knowledge regarding myeloid immune cells in cardiovascular disease, specifically in advanced atherosclerosis.

You will:

1) identify myeloid cell subsets, with a particular focus on dendritic cells, in advanced human atherosclerosis and associate these with patient characteristics

2) investigate the functional changes of different dendritic cell subsets in advanced atherosclerosis

3) identify proatherogenic dendritic cell subsets and validate potential therapeutic targets for intervention.

You will make use of available human atherosclerotic tissue and datasets, design and perform in vitro studies and validate findings in vivo.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, bright, well‑motivated and ambitious scientist:

• With a recent Master degree in Bio-Pharmaceutical/Bio-medical sciences, immunology, molecular biology, or a related field,
• Strong background in immunology and/or cardiovascular research,
• With experience with in vivo studies (artikel 9, proefdierkunde), spectral flow cytometry, single‑cell sequencing (working in R), microscopical techniques and molecular biology is an advantage,
• English proficiency (verbally and written),
• Who is an independent and creative team player with good communicative skills.

The Faculty of Science at Leiden University is a world‑class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expand fundamental knowledge by curiosity and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.

The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio‑pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organized in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelors’ and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2,700 staff and over 6,000 students.

We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of…