PhD in Whole Genome Sequencing for Rare Disease Diagnostics University of Antwerp in Belgium

University of Antwerp / Center for Medical Genetics (CMG Antwerp) is offering a PhD opportunity in whole genome sequencing for rare disease diagnostics.

The project, “From Genome to Diagnosis: Clinical Application and Translation of Whole Genome Sequencing in Rare Disease Diagnostics”, focuses on the clinical translation of short-read and long-read whole genome sequencing (sr/lrWGS) to improve diagnosis for patients with rare diseases.

Research topics include identifying pathogenic structural variants, detecting novel disease-causing tandem repeats, integrating episignatures into diagnostic workflows, and interpreting pathogenic non-coding variants. The work sits at the intersection of genomics, bioinformatics, and clinical genetics, with a strong translational and diagnostic emphasis.

The successful candidate will join CMG Antwerp, embedded within the University of Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital, and will work alongside teams active in cardiovascular genetics, neurodevelopmental disorders, and genome data analysis. Supervisory contacts mentioned in the post include Prof Dr Bart Loeys and Prof Dr Marije Meuwissen, with co-supervision by Dr Dale Annear and Prof Josephina Meester.

Eligibility: a Master’s degree in (Bio)medical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, Bioinformatics, or a related field; strong interest or expertise in bioinformatics; excellent study results; and fluency in written and spoken English. The post also notes that applicants must be eligible for an FWO PhD fellowship.

Funding: full-time doctoral scholarship holder position, initially for one year and extendable by three years after positive evaluation and pending funding. The scholarship includes standard doctoral scholarship pay plus ecocheques and a bicycle allowance or public transport reimbursement.

Deadline: 18 June 2026. Planned start date: 15 September 2026 or soon after. Apply via the University of Antwerp online application platform and include a motivation letter and academic CV.