PhD Candidate: DONOR-PROTECT

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate to join DONOR-PROTECT, an ambitious ERC-funded research program that aims to develop and evaluate personalized donor health protection strategies for blood and plasma donors.

As demand for plasma-derived medicinal products continues to rise worldwide, blood establishments face the challenge of increasing plasma collection while safeguarding donor health. DONOR-PROTECT brings together epidemiology, transfusion medicine, data science, genetics, immunology, and social sciences to develop evidence-based, personalized donation strategies.

Within this multidisciplinary project, you will play a central role in the work package focusing on the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) of personalized donor health protection.

Project Background

Organization: Sanquin Research & Amsterdam UMC, in close collaboration with Etablissement Français du Sang and the University of Rennes

Duration: 4 years (full-time)

Project: ERC Consolidator Grant DONOR-PROTECT

Current donor policies largely apply the same donation intervals and eligibility criteria to all donors. However, growing evidence suggests that donors differ substantially in how they respond to blood and plasma donation.

DONOR-PROTECT aims to move from a "one-size-fits-all" approach towards personalized donor health protection strategies that take individual characteristics into account, such as biomarkers, genetics, dietary patterns, sex, and reproductive factors.

While such personalization may improve donor health and optimize blood and plasma collection, it also raises important ethical, legal and societal questions:

• Which personal data may ethically be used in donor management?
• How do donors perceive personalized donation recommendations?
• Could personalization unintentionally increase inequalities?
• How can donor autonomy and trust be safeguarded?
• What are the legal requirements for implementing such strategies across Europe?
• How can personalized donor management be implemented responsibly in different cultural and healthcare contexts?

These questions form the core of your PhD project.

Your Research

You will investigate the ethical, legal and social dimensions of personalized donor health protection through a combination of qualitative and comparative research methods.

The project includes three major components:

1. Systematic Review

You will conduct a comprehensive review of the scientific and policy literature addressing ethical, legal and social considerations surrounding personalized donor management, donor health protection, health data use, and algorithm-supported decision making.

2. Stakeholder Perspectives

Using focus groups and semi-structured interviews, you will explore perspectives of:

• Blood and plasma donors;
• Donor physicians and collection staff;
• Researchers and data scientists;
• Policymakers and blood establishment leaders;
• Patient representatives.

You will investigate opportunities, concerns, expectations and barriers regarding personalized donor health protection strategies.

3. Cross-Cultural and International Analysis

DONOR-PROTECT involves collaborators across Europe and beyond. You will compare ethical and societal perspectives, legal frameworks, and implementation challenges across different countries and blood collection systems.

The ultimate goal is to develop practical recommendations and implementation guidance that support responsible adoption of personalized donor health protection strategies throughout Europe.

What You Will Contribute To

You will be part of the Donor Health research group at the Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, more specifically of a group of 4 PhD students and a post-doctoral researcher working on DONOR-PROTECT, led by Prof. dr. Katja van den Hurk. During the project, you will hold a guest affiliation at Amsterdam UMC. Upon successful completion of the project, you will be awarded a PhD degree by the University of Amsterdam. In close collaboration with researchers from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark and France, we will be studying:

• Health effects of blood and plasma donation;
• Development and testing of personalized donor health protection algorithms;
• Large randomized controlled trials on donor health;
• Ethical, legal and societal aspects of personalized donor health protection.

Your work on ethical, legal and societal aspects will directly contribute to shaping future donor policies and strengthening sustainable blood and plasma supplies. This work will build on a comprehensive PhD thesis that has already systematically examined European legislation and ethical guidelines related to blood collections. This process will be streamlined under the direct co-supervision of Dr. Jean-Baptiste Thibert from Etablissement Français du Sang and the University of Rennes, the thesis author and renowned expert on ethical and legal considerations in transfusion medicine.

Your Profile

We are looking for a candidate with a Master's degree in: Bioethics, Medical Anthropology, Sociology, Health Sciences, Public Health, Law, or a related discipline. The candidate must have strong interest in ethics and societal aspects of healthcare innovation, experience or affinity with qualitative research methods, excellent communication skills, and excellent written and spoken English.

We would particularly welcome candidates with experience in qualitative research methods, such as interviews and focus groups, and an interest in conducting literature reviews and evidence synthesis. A strong interest in healthcare policy, regulation, and the ethical implications of personalized and data-driven healthcare is highly desirable. Because the project is embedded in a large international consortium, experience working in international research environments is an advantage. Proficiency in French would be considered a plus, given the close collaboration with a French co-supervisor and other consortium partners.

What We Offer

• A fully funded 4-year PhD position within an ERC Consolidator Grant;
• Supervision by an interdisciplinary team of experts in donor health, ethics, epidemiology and transfusion medicine;
• Access to an extensive international network of collaborators;
• Opportunities to present your work at international conferences;
• Training in qualitative research, implementation science, and responsible innovation;
• A unique opportunity to contribute to the future of personalized donor health protection strategies and blood supply sustainability;
• This PhD position is remunerated according to the CAO UMC salary scale for PhD candidates, increasing annually from €3,217 to €4,077 gross per month (full-time);
• 8.33% year-end bonus and 8.33% holiday allowance, flexibly payable;
• 201 vacation hours with a full-time (36 hours) contract, of which 7 vacation days are part of your individual choice budget;
• Generous travel reimbursement, starting from the first kilometer;
• Every 3 years, €2,000 development budget for your professional ambitions;
• Collective agreements with various insurers;
• Flexible benefits system where you can tailor your employment conditions;
• Pension plan with Pensioenfonds Zorg en Welzijn. We contribute 65%.

More about our terms of employment can be found at

Excited?

Are you excited and do you see yourself in the profile of a PhD candidate? Apply directly with your CV and motivation via the application button below (A pre-employment screening and/or Certificate of Conduct (VOG) may be part of the procedure).

Application Deadline and Interviews

Please submit your letter, curriculum vitae and references before August 31st. We plan to have the first interview round in the week of the 14 September, followed by a second interview in the subsequent week (22/23 September).

In case of questions, please email donorprotect@sanquin.nl.

During the recruitment process, your CV and motivation letter may be shared with a consortium consisting of seven partner organizations. These parties are jointly involved in the selection and decision-making process regarding candidates. We handle your personal data with care and ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect your privacy at all times.

Acquisition is not appreciated. Sanquin does not accept unsolicited help from agencies for this vacancy. Resumes sent by agencies (in any form) to any employee of Sanquin without a valid written search request are considered the property of Sanquin, for which no compensation is owed in any way.