Summary
The Lab for Experimental Hematology at the KU Leuven Department of Oncology is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join the team of Prof. Marlies Vanden Bempt on the Gasthuisberg campus in Leuven, Belgium. The research group aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic regulation and transcription factor activity in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and how these processes become deregulated in pre-malignant conditions (such as clonal hematopoiesis) and lymphoid malignancies.
Postdoctoral Researcher – Epigenetics & Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium
Designation
- Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
- Job Reference: BAP-2026-491
Overview & Key Information
| Attribute | Details |
| Position Title | Postdoctoral Researcher – Epigenetics & Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology |
| Reference Code | BAP-2026-491 |
| Institution | KU Leuven (Department of Oncology / UZ Leuven) |
| Employment Type | Full-time (1-year initial contract, extendable for 2 additional years) |
| Expected Start Date | From January 2027 |
| Application Deadline | September 30, 2026 (23:59 CET) |
Research Area
- Epigenetics & Chromatin Profiling
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) Biology
- Hemato-oncology & Pre-malignant Conditions (Clonal Hematopoiesis)
- Functional Genomics & Single-Cell Omics
Location
Leuven, Belgium
Campus Gasthuisberg, KU Leuven Department of Oncology / University Hospital UZ Leuven
Eligibility / Qualification
Required Qualifications:
- Degree: PhD in molecular biology, hematology, epigenetics, stem cell biology, or a closely related field.
- Publication Record: Productive scientific track record, including at least 1 first-author publication in an international peer-reviewed journal (or a manuscript in the final stages of revision).
- Core Experimental Skills:
- Standard molecular techniques (e.g., qPCR, Western blot, cloning).
- Mammalian cell culture and flow cytometry.
- Experience handling mouse models (a FELASA B certificate is a strong asset).
- Communication & Collaboration: Excellent written and oral English skills, strong organizational abilities, and the capacity to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
Desirable / Preferred Assets:
- Experience with ex vivo primary hematopoietic stem cell culture methods.
- Experience with basic bio-informatic analysis (especially single-cell sequencing data).
- Experience with chromatin profiling techniques (e.g., ChIP-seq, CUT&TAG).
- Familiarity with CRISPR genome editing, base editing, or tiled CRISPR screening.
Job Description & Responsibilities
- Scientific Research: Investigate how specific point mutations in epigenetic regulators drive the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells using ex vivo HSC primary cultures, CRISPR editing, base editing, tiled CRISPR screens, single-cell transcriptomics, and chromatin profiling.
- Project Leadership: Develop and lead an independent research line within the scope of HSC epigenetics.
- Fellowship Funding: Apply for competitive personal fellowships (MSCA, FWO, EMBO, etc.) with extensive mentorship provided by the lab.
- Teamwork & Mentorship: Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of molecular biologists, computational biologists, and clinical hematologists.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit their application online through the KU Leuven Job Portal.
Required Application Documents:
- A detailed CV including a full list of scientific publications.
- A Motivation Letter.
- Contact information for 2–3 professional references.
Contact for Inquiries:
For further information regarding the position, contact Prof. dr. Marlies Vanden Bempt via email at
marlies.vandenbempt@kuleuven.be.
Last Date for Apply
September 30, 2026 (23:59 CET)
