Essential
1. Master’s degree in Pharmacometrics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, (Bio)medicine, (Bio)statistics, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Bioengineering, or related fields
2. Strong interest in quantitative methods and drug development
3. Hands-on experience with modeling and simulation software tools (e.g., NONMEM, R) and statistical data analysis
4. Programing skills in R and/or Python
5. Excellent communication skills and fluency in English (oral and written)
6. Independent, proactive, rigorous, results-driven, solution-oriented, and a critical thinker
7. Collaborative spirit and enthusiasm for working in an international and interdisciplinary research environment
8. Willingness to contribute to teaching and mentoring
Bonus (not required)
9. Prior experience with PK–PD studies
10. Background in pharmacometrics
This PhD project centers on the development of a computational platform model for a biologic therapy, integrating data from clinical trials and real-world studies. The model will be used to simulate and evaluate optimized dosing strategies for special populations, including hard-to-treat patients.
Embedded within a flexible academic–industry collaboration, the project offers room for scientific exploration, innovation, and the opportunity to contribute to model-informed drug development in alignment with emerging regulatory frameworks.
The Leuven Pharmacometrics Research Group, headed by Prof. Erwin Dreesen, is part of the Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy Unit within the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences at KU Leuven (Belgium).Our team specializes in data-driven modeling and simulation (M&S) to advance drug development and precision medicine across therapeutic areas including immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, transplantation, and oncology. We are seeking a bright and highly motivated PhD candidate to join our interdisciplinary team for a cutting-edge project focused on pharmacokinetics–pharmacodynamics (PK–PD) M&S of biologics, aiming to optimize dosing strategies and inform clinical trial design. •Pharmacometrics Research Group: https://gbiomed.kuleuven.be/english/research/50000715/LeuvenPharmacometrics •Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy Unit: https://gbiomed.kuleuven.be/english/research/50000715/52577001 •Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences: https://gbiomed.kuleuven.be/english/research/50000715
11. A full-time PhD position (initially 2 years, extendable to 4 years maximum)
12. A high-impact, scientifically exceptional research project in collaboration with industry
13. A dynamic and supportive international research environment with English as the primary working language
14. Access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and high-performance computing
15. Dedicated training programs to enhance your expertise
16. Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and career development
17. An inclusive and respectful workplace culture
18. Regular social and networking events