Postdoc Molecular and

Logo of EURAXESS Job offer AcademicTransfer - JOB - Netherlands - Posted on: 15 July 2026 Page contents 15 Jul 2026 University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Biological sciences » Laboratory animal science Medical sciences » Medicine Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 21 Aug :59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 36.0 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 Offer Description This fully funded 36-month postdoc project aims to test whether targeting the aminopeptidase ERAP2 can tackle EBV infection in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and is a joint effort of our group at the Department of Ophthalmology of the UMC Utrecht and the ErasMS team at Erasmus MC Rotterdam. You will use state-of-the-art molecular and cellular techniques available at the Kuiper group and its collaborating labs to elucidate how ERAP2 shapes pathogenic immune responses and if this can be corrected with small molecular inhibitors. This project aims to test whether targeting ERAP2 can selectively remove pathogenic EBV-infected B cells in MS. Almost everyone with MS carries EBV, and EBV-infected B cells help drive disease. ERAP2 shapes how these B cells present viral peptides to NK cells and CD8+ T cells. - You will build disease-relevant cellular models of EBV-infected B cells, modulate ERAP2 activity, and read out the downstream consequences for antigen presentation, NK and CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity, and B cell survival. You will be embedded in the research group of Dr. Jonas Kuiper within the Center for Translational Immunology (CTI) at UMC Utrecht and collaborate closely with the groups of Dr. Marvin van Luijn and Dr. Joost Smolders at MS Center ErasMS in Rotterd...