1. You have a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences or a related discipline, or you are considered equivalent through experience.
2. Experience in a PhD in Biomedical Sciences is an advantage.
3. You have excellent communication skills in spoken and written English. Other language skills are a plus.
4. You are well-organised, punctual and an eager writer.
5. Prior knowledge of diabetes, in particular type 1 diabetes is an asset.
6. Experience with EU consortia is not required, but is an asset.
7. You are capable of working in a team, have an open communication style, have a problem-solving attitude, and are proactive and result-driven, you can cope with deadlines.
As a successful candidate you will be part of a small management team, lead by prof. Mathieu, and will be fully integrated in different tasks of the management and communication of our EDENT1FI project.
Responsibilities:
8. Coordinates and monitors progress of the project. You are in the lead of the communication with all partners, you monitor all deadlines, you ensure that project tasks are performed in a timely manner and that deliverables and milestones are met, you evaluate the content of reports delivered by the partners, you compile all reports and submit them to the European Commission.
9. You are first contact person for the partners, with the Advisory Boards and with the European Commission. You have extensive overall knowledge about the project to be able to answer all questions and concerns from partners. In case of issues you are in charge of working towards a solution with all parties (setting up meetings, mediate,…).
10. Coordinates legal aspects of the project. For this aspect you work in close collaboration with the legal department of KU Leuven R&D. Together, you customize confidentiality agreements, negotiate subcontracts, prepare tenders following the purchase procedures of IHI.
11. You are responsible for all project meetings (Annual meetings, Coordination Team and Managing Board meetings). You coordinate the organisation of those meetings, you decide on the agenda, you determine the content and prepare the presentations (for yourself and for the rest of the management team), you advise and follow-up with the partners for (the content of) their presentations, you write the meeting minutes.
12. You are responsible for activities towards external stakeholders (eg Health Care Professionals, Policy Makers, General Public). You prepare guidelines (lay publications in local journals, flyers, posters for conferences,…) to inform and educate healthcare professionals in screening and monitoring for early stage Type 1 Diabetes. You prepare the documentation for your colleagues who are attending international conferences on Type 1 Diabetes with the same educating goal.
13. Coordinates the overall communication of the project. You write content for social media (Blsky and LinkedIn), you update the website with the latest project developments (www.edent1fi.eu), you prepare internal newsletters.
All these tasks will be performed in close collaboration and under supervision of team members Dr. Lut Overbergh and Prof. Jurgen Vercauteren.
The research group of prof Chantal Mathieu is presently coordinator of the EDENT1FI project (European Action for the Diagnosis of Early Non-clinical Type 1 diabetes For disease Interception) (www.edent1fi.eu, Nov 2023 – Oct 2028). This is a largescale IHI-JU (Innovative Health Initiative- Joint Undertaking) European consortium focusing on implementing early Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) detection to reduce the risk on diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and delay disease progression, enhancing long-term health outcomes and cutting healthcare costs. It aims to refine screening and support early-diagnosed individuals.This largescale project consists of 27 partner institutes throughout 12 countries, including academic, industrial, and patient organizations. In EDENT1FI we want to screen 200,000 children from the general population across Europe and detect whether they have early stage Type 1 Diabetes and are at risk of developing symptomatic T1D. This involves screening children for biomarkers (auto-antibodies) associated with the condition. Our mission encompasses not only the early detection of T1D in children, but also the provision of continuous support and education to families navigating this challenge. By equipping these families with essential knowledge and resources, our aim is to empower them to effectively manage T1D. Through our comprehensive efforts we aspire to positively impact the lives of affected families, fostering understanding and proactive care. As such, we are paving the way to arresting T1D.
14. We offer an exciting and variable job in a pleasant working atmosphere within an international environment. Additional training will be provided depending on the needs for the performance of this function. Moreover, KU Leuven offers several extra-legal benefits, such as hospitalization insurance, group insurance, extra holidays, benefits for public transport, company bicycle, possibilities for joint purchase ('Samenaankoop'). More details available on the KU Leuven jobsite.
15. The initial appointment is for one year with possibility for extension and starting date as soon as possible.
16. Full time or part time position (>60%) are negotiable.
17. If you are immediately employable in all assignments of this position, you will start in grade 7. Promising candidates who cannot yet take up all assignments immediately or who still have to go through a specific training program start in grade 6. Grade 8 is exceptionally reserved for candidates who, because of their extensive knowledge and experience, can take on extra responsibilities right from the start.
18. The office is located in Leuven, Belgium.