Martijn Nawijn

The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow for a two-year research project (with possible extension) focused on identifying and modeling the molecular mechanisms underlying severe asthma. The project leverages advanced single-nuclear RNA-seq analyses and the development of endotype-specific culture models, aiming to better understand the heterogeneity of asthma and to develop targeted therapeutic interventions and biomarkers. This research is part of the Ombion Centre for Animal-free Biomedical Translation and is closely aligned with the EU-funded RESPIRE-EXCEL DN, the 3TR consortia, and the Human Cell Atlas initiative. The successful candidate will join the Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), one of Europe’s leading centers for translational respiratory research. The research group, led by Professor Martijn Nawijn, combines experimental wet-lab work using primary cells from patients with asthma and COPD with advanced computational dry-lab analyses of high-dimensional datasets. The Department of Pathology and Medical Biology at UMCG is internationally recognized for its work in molecular diagnostics and digital pathology, offering state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities. The postdoctoral fellow will chart molecular and cellular mechanisms in the airway wall of patients with severe asthma, comparing cell-type specific transcriptional phenotypes to those in experimental models. The project involves generating and analyzing single-cell transcriptomic data from airway wall tissue and cultured primary epithelial and immune cells. Integrated computational analyses will be performed using state-of-the-art methods. The fellow will collaborate with two PhD students and work in an interdisciplinary, international environment. Applicants should have a (nearly) completed PhD in a relevant field such as computational biology or biomedical sciences, with experience in cellular, biochemical, and molecular analysis techniques. Experience with both the generation and analysis of high-dimensional single-cell transcriptomic data is required. A track record in respiratory research is preferred. Excellent English communication skills, motivation for scientific research, and the ability to work in a team are essential. This is a full-time, fully funded position (36 hours per week), with a gross monthly salary ranging from €3,598 to €5,669, plus an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus. The position starts in March 2026 and is initially for two years, with the possibility of a two-year extension. Employment conditions comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC). The application deadline is January 26, 2026. Applications must be submitted via the digital application form on the official vacancy page. UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy and may require a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) and a Knowledge Security assessment as part of the hiring process.