Position Details

Faculty: Faculty of Science

Department: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Working Hours: 36–40 hours per week

Application Deadline: 31 August 2026

At Utrecht University, we have built a specialized team focusing on the discovery of previously unidentified antigens for immunotherapies through mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics and immunopeptidomics. We now seek a highly motivated and experienced Postdoctoral Researcher to join our multidisciplinary research team.

Your Job

As a Postdoctoral Researcher in the group of Dr. Marino, you will play a central role in advancing the group's research through the development and application of state-of-the-art immunopeptidomics/proteomics workflows for antigen identification, quantification, and validation. Your work will directly contribute to translational and precision medicine initiatives, with a particular focus on the discovery of clinically relevant targets for cancer immunotherapy.

In this role, you will support the team by driving mass spectrometry-based method development and contributing your expertise to a range of proteogenomics and immunology-related projects. Beyond providing technical leadership, you will proactively introduce innovative ideas, establish new research directions, and spearhead initiatives that strengthen the group's scientific capabilities.

You will have the opportunity to make a significant impact by developing novel workflows that enable the identification and accurate quantification of antigens and associated mechanisms of T-cell recognition. These discoveries will support the development of next-generation vaccine-based therapies, ultimately contributing to improved outcomes for patients with cancer.

Finally, you will be involved in many different multicentered and multidisciplinary collaborations with industry, academia, and medical institutes. This will increase your exposure and expand your professional network, supporting your future scientific career.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute mass spectrometry-based workflows for the identification and quantitation of disease-associated antigens from clinical specimens.
• Develop, optimize, and apply DIA- and PRM-based proteomics methods.
• Perform quantitative data analysis, normalization, quality control, and statistical interpretation of proteomics datasets.
• Contribute to biomarker and antigen validation studies across diverse clinical cohorts.
• Collaborate closely with clinicians, computational biologists, and translational researchers.
• Support method development, data interpretation, manuscript preparation, and grant writing.

Your Qualities

Required Qualifications and Experience

• PhD in Proteomics, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• Proven hands-on experience with mass spectrometry-based proteomics and/or immunopeptidomics in clinical or translational research settings.
• Demonstrated expertise in:Strong experience in processing and interpreting complex MS datasets.
  • Data-Independent Acquisition (DIA).
  • Parallel Reaction Monitoring (PRM).
  • Quantitative proteomics workflows.
  • Data normalization and quality control strategies.
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications in relevant fields.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Structural biology and cross-linking mass spectrometry.
• Workflow automation and reproducible data analysis pipelines.

Our Offer

• Access to the newest and most advanced mass spectrometry instruments and computing infrastructures.
• A multidisciplinary environment within the group, with exposure to and collaborations with external partners beyond the laboratory.
• A social and diverse environment across the entire BioMS group with a strong sense of community, including shared lunches and coffee breaks, a joint running group, Friday drinks, and other social activities that extend beyond the laboratory.
• A position for initially 1 year.
• A gross monthly salary, depending on qualifications and experience, between €3,546 and €5,538 for full-time employment (Salary Scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)).
• 8% holiday pay.
• 8.3% year-end bonus.
• A pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. These include arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities.

You can also tailor your employment conditions through the Terms of Employment Options Model, encouraging continued personal and professional development.

About Us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes.

Our focus is on:

• Dynamics of Youth.
• Institutions for Open Societies.
• Life Sciences.
• Pathways to Sustainability.

Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Working at the Faculty of Science means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty has six departments:

• Biology.
• Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Information & Computing Sciences.
• Physics.
• Chemistry.
• Mathematics.

Together, we work on excellent research and inspiring education, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure.

The Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) is the research institute of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Utrecht University. UIPS focuses on processes surrounding the discovery, development, and use of drugs and medical nutrition using molecular and technological principles from the Natural and Life Sciences.

The Research Group

You will be embedded in the Division of Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics (BioMS).

The group consists of:

• More than 60 researchers and support staff.
• 18 different nationalities.
• Expertise including chemists, biologists, bioinformaticians, and technical staff.

Research in this division focuses on the use of mass spectrometry-based enabling technologies to understand the molecular mechanisms of cells. The group houses outstanding infrastructure, including:

• More than a dozen state-of-the-art mass spectrometers.
• Cell culture facilities.
• Access to microscopy facilities.

The BioMS group is internationally renowned for mass spectrometry-based proteomics and structural biology. These technologies are applied to research on:

• Cancer.
• Autoimmune disorders.
• Immunology.
• Infections.
• Infectious diseases.

Within the BioMS group, you will work under the guidance of Dr. Fabio Marino.

Dr. Marino received his PhD within the BioMS group before moving to the biotechnology industry. After several years in industry, he returned to Utrecht University as an Assistant Professor to establish his own immunopeptidomics research group.

His research focuses on improving our understanding of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Class I and II antigen processing and presentation using mass spectrometry-based proteomics and immunopeptidomics. These discoveries contribute to:

• Improving clinical products.
• Developing new strategies for identifying targetable HLA-bound antigens.
• Understanding T-cell antigen recognition.

The research group currently consists of:

• 1 PhD student.
• 1 Technician.
• 5 Postdoctoral Researchers.

The group collaborates closely with industry and academic partners, including the Prinses Máxima Center, and participates in the NGF Oncode Accelerator project.

More Information

For more information, please contact:

Celine Miedema
Email: t.c.miedema@uu.nl

For questions about the application procedure, please contact:

Science Recruitment
Email: science.recruitment@uu.nl

Apply Now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedure for academic staff. This helps prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology.

If you are enthusiastic about this position, apply via the "Apply now" button.

Please include:

• Your letter of motivation.
• Your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• The names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two references.

If this opportunity is not for you but you know someone who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The vacancy may close earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.

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Application Deadline

1 September 2026

In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com