Antwerp institute opens a senior post to lead Trypanosoma science
The Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp is building a new research unit around Trypanosoma biology, host–parasite–vector interactions, and the applied science needed to support control of African trypanosomiases. The position carries the title Professor Trypanosoma and sits inside the Department of Biomedical Sciences, where the incoming academic will be expected to lead research, education, and service delivery in parallel. This is not a narrow bench role. It is a leadership post that ties fundamental parasitology to diagnostics, surveillance, and public health action in endemic settings.
The institute is looking for an outstanding scientist with a strong record in experimental parasitology, the molecular biology of trypanosomes, and/or host and vector immunology. A strong international network is part of the brief, including partnerships in Africa, South America, and/or South-East Asia. The new unit will build on existing work in African trypanosome research while also creating a distinct, independent scientific portfolio. In practical terms, the appointment is meant to expand both the knowledge base around parasite biology and the operational tools used to confront human African trypanosomiasis.
Research leadership will span parasite biology, vectors, and diagnostics
The core scientific mandate is split between discovery and application. On one side, the professor will develop innovative fundamental research on Trypanosoma biology and host–Trypanosoma–vector interactions. On the other, the role includes maintaining and extending the unit’s established expertise in human African trypanosomiasis, including biomedical support for ongoing control and elimination efforts.
A standout feature of the post is its emphasis on mechanism. Trypanosomes remain a formidable target because their biology is tightly linked to transmission by vectors and to immune evasion within the human host. A professor working at this interface can interrogate how parasite adaptation, vector competence, and host immunity intersect, then feed that knowledge into diagnostic strategy and surveillance. The institution explicitly expects work that advances understanding of parasite biology and points toward biomedical applications for trypanosomiasis.
The incoming academic is also expected to take over line management of the existing Trypanosoma-focused team. This matters because the position is designed around continuity as well as renewal: the new leader must preserve current strengths in HAT while shaping a fresh, independent direction that complements the unit’s established expertise.
One sentence captures the operational weight of the post: the unit is expected to move from strong foundations to broader scientific reach without losing its applied edge.
HAT control, tsetse facilities, and translational work remain central
The job description places applied research at the center of the appointment, not at the margins. The professor will be responsible for further developing the unit’s translational portfolio, including its contribution to HAT diagnosis, molecular surveillance, and control programmes. Oversight of the scientific use and maintenance of the tsetse fly facility is also part of the role, although prior experience running such a facility is not required.
That combination reveals the institute’s priorities. HAT elimination depends on more than laboratory insight; it requires sustained coordination among diagnostics, vector work, surveillance, and field-facing implementation. A leader who can navigate experimental parasitology and operational biology is positioned to support both the discovery pipeline and the infrastructure that keeps disease control programs functioning. The post also includes direction of ITM’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Human African Trypanosomiasis Diagnostics, adding a formal international service component.
The emphasis on molecular diagnostics and control programs suggests that the institute values not just academic output but expertise that can influence real-world disease management. In a field where residual transmission and case detection remain critical concerns, the ability to connect molecular tools with public health systems is a defining part of the job.
Teaching, grants, and team building are embedded in the appointment
The academic triad is explicit here. Research is only one part of the post; education and service are equally woven into the appointment. The professor will contribute to teaching within the Department of Biomedical Sciences and at ITM more broadly, including supervision of Master students and PhD candidates, as well as specialized short courses. Academic training is not a side duty. It is part of how the unit is expected to sustain capacity and produce future expertise in parasitology.
Grant acquisition and scientific visibility also sit near the center of the profile. Candidates are expected to build an internationally competitive research programme and secure competitive funding. The language signals a preference for someone who can assemble a durable portfolio, supervise staff, and strengthen the institute’s global profile over time. Experience with advanced experimental and/or computational approaches is welcomed, including molecular biology, biochemistry, imaging, cell biology, multi-omics, and computational methods, depending on the applicant’s research program.
A strong collaborative profile is mandatory. The institute wants someone who can establish and foster international partnerships, work across disciplines, and contribute to complementary research lines on vector-borne and protozoan diseases inside the department. People management is part of the package too, with responsibility for scientific and technical staff at a level appropriate to senior academic leadership.
Candidate profile favors depth in parasitology and global partnerships
Applicants need a PhD in biology, veterinary sciences, biomedical sciences, biochemistry, medicine, or a related field. The institute asks for at least four years of relevant postdoctoral experience. An excellent research profile in experimental or molecular parasitology of trypanosomatids is central, and translational or applied research experience is considered an asset. So is capacity strengthening work and collaboration with institutions in endemic countries.
Language expectations are practical and broad. English fluency is required. French is an asset, Dutch is desirable, and applicants without Dutch skills are asked to show willingness to acquire a working level. The role is open to candidates of any nationality, and the institute explicitly welcomes applicants from low- and middle-income countries. That is paired with immigration and relocation assistance, along with a starting package that includes coaching and training.
The employment package reflects a full academic appointment, with placement at assistant professor, associate professor, professor, or full professor level depending on record and qualifications. Supplementary benefits can include a private pension scheme, meal vouchers, transport reimbursement, and, for candidates eligible under Belgian fiscal law, relocation and cost-of-living allowances. The closing date is 15 February 2027.
For researchers working in African trypanosome science, the post signals a rare chance to shape a unit that moves between parasite biology, vector systems, diagnostics, and training. The challenge will be to hold those lines together without flattening any of them. The next leader will need to do both: deepen the science and keep the public health mission intact.