1. You have a Bachelor' s degree in Communication or in Biomedical Sciences or a related discipline, or you are considered equivalent through experience.
2. You have excellent communication skills in spoken and written English. Other language skills are a plus.
3. You are well-organised, punctual, and an eager writer.
4. Prior knowledge of diabetes, particularly Type 1 Diabetes, is an asset.
5. Experience with EU consortia is not required but is an asset.
6. You are capable of working in a team, have an open communication style, a problem-solving attitude, and are proactive and result-driven. You can cope with deadlines.
As a successful communication assistant, you will be part of a small management team led by Prof. Mathieu. and you will be fully integrated into the communication tasks of our EDENT1FI project.
Key Responsibilities:
7. You will assist in collaborating with external communication partners engaged to set up our general communication and awareness campaigns for the screening of T1D towards the general population.
8. You will support the communication with all partners, the Advisory Boards, and the European Commission. You will assist in addressing partners' questions and concerns and help ensure smooth communication.
9. You will assist activities towards external stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the general public. This includes preparing guidelines, lay publications in local journals, flyers, and posters for conferences to inform and educate healthcare professionals about screening and monitoring for early-stage Type 1 Diabetes.
10. You will be updating our social media platforms (Blsky and LinkedIn), the project website with the latest developments (www.edent1fi.eu), and help prepare internal newsletters to keep all stakeholders informed.
11. You will co-organize regular meetings in regards to the communication aspect of the project, and prepare minutes of the meetings.
12. You will help in preparing documentation for colleagues attending international conferences on Type 1 Diabetes, ensuring that the educational goals of the project are met.
13. You will develop and manage the visual and written communication materials for the project, ensuring consistency and clarity in all messaging.
All these tasks will be performed under the supervision of team members Dr. Lut Overbergh and Prof. Jurgen Vercauteren.
The research group of Prof. Chantal Mathieu is currently coordinating 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 large-scale IHI-JU (Innovative Health Initiative- Joint Undertaking) European consortium focusing on implementing early Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) detection to reduce the risk of 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 large-scale project consists of 27 partner institutes throughout 12 countries, including academic, industrial, and patient organizations. In EDENT1FI, we aim to screen 200,000 children from the general population across Europe to 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.
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, and possibilities for joint purchase ('Samenaankoop'). More details are available on the KU Leuven job site.
The initial appointment is for one year with the possibility of extension and a starting date as soon as possible. Full-time or part-time positions (>60%) are negotiable. If you are immediately employable in all assignments of this position, you will start in grade 5. Promising candidates who cannot yet take up all assignments immediately or who still have to go through a specific training program start in grade 4.
The office is located in Leuven, Belgium.