What to expect
This exceptional student position is subject to a number of specific eligibility requirements. Please review these conditions carefully before submitting your application.
To apply, you must first and foremost be a student. Without student status, you cannot apply for this position.
Additionally, your field of study must be in a (para)medical area, specifically: Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy, Dentistry, or Nursing. If your field of study is not on this list, you are not eligible to apply.
Education
Experience
In short, you do not need prior experience to be considered for this position. If you already have experience in an operating room, with organ donation/transplantation, or with organ perfusion, it is a plus but not a guarantee of getting the function. Our experience has shown that these aspects can be learned quickly. Therefore, the absence of experience is often not a limitation for performing this role
Language Requirements
As our service operates nationwide across Belgium, a solid working knowledge of both Dutch and French is required. You must be able to introduce yourself fluently, ask for directions, and engage in basic conversations with hospital staff.
Technical communication with the surgical team (e.g., perfusion procedures) may be conducted in English, which makes strong spoken English even more critical than Dutch or French.
In addition, excellent written English is essential, as the majority of our protocols, training materials, and documentation are provided in English.
Skills
Beyond technical knowledge, success in this role hinges on the right mindset. The single most important trait we look for is a genuine “fire in the belly” — the drive and determination to perform under pressure when consulting with highly experienced surgical teams.
In addition, the following qualities are essential:
Strict adherence to protocol Connecting a kidney to the LifePort® is a precise procedure that requires absolute fidelity to established protocols while simultaneously troubleshooting unexpected challenges. Deep understanding of the protocol is non-negotiable; deviations are never acceptable.
Respectful and discreet attitude Organ donation is one of the most altruistic acts imaginable. Every interaction must reflect the highest level of respect, tact, discretion, and strict observance of professional confidentiality.
Strong communication skills You will serve as the central point of contact between Organ Recovery Systems (operational management) and the donor hospital team (transplant coordinator, surgeons, nurses, etc.). Clear, confident, and precise communication is critical. Experience shows that approximately 75% of past incidents were linked to communication breakdowns.
Team player mentality Although you work independently in the operating theatre, collaboration remains vital. Outside procedures, you will regularly exchange experiences, tips, and support with fellow Kidney Preservationists, strengthening the entire team.
Ability to thrive under stress The first procedures can be intense: new environment, high stakes, complex cases, and rapidly evolving situations. In our initial cohort, some students withdrew because the stress proved overwhelming — a situation that can pose risks to organ viability. While we have significantly strengthened training and support, stress will always be part of the role. Before applying, honestly assess whether you are genuinely stress-resilient, both for your own well-being and for patient safety.
Confidence when working with experienced professionals As a student, you are used to learning from those above you. Here, the dynamic reverses: on matters of hypothermic machine perfusion, you are the expert. You must feel comfortable advising — and, when necessary, respectfully correcting — senior surgeons, many of whom have strong personalities. Switching seamlessly between “student mode” and “consultant mode” in any atmosphere is a core requirement of the position.
These qualities, combined with passion and commitment, are what enable our Kidney Preservationists to excel and make a lasting impact on transplant outcomes
Responsibility
The position of Kidney Preservationist carries exceptional responsibility. Even minor errors can have serious consequences for the donor organ, the recipient patient, and the reputation of the National Preservation Service.
This is not a casual student job you can take on the side. It demands full commitment, thorough preparation, and the ability to perform in challenging situations.
If your primary motivation is CV-building or financial gain, you will likely not meet the required standard and could jeopardize the organ, the patient, and the service.
Complete focus and priority are essential. Other engagements (e.g., Junior Orsi, Chimes, BeMSA) are allowed, but they should not have an impact on the quality of your work.
Only with this level of dedication can you successfully carry the responsibility this position requires.
Availability
As mentioned earlier, we expect each kidney preservationist to be available an average of 8 days per month, with 3 days as primary on-call and 3 days as secondary on-call.
The standard on-call arrangement does not apply during exam periods and summer holidays:
December and May: Each Kidney Preservationist is required to complete 5 on-call shifts.
January and June (official exam periods) No mandatory on-call duties. Participation is strictly voluntary.
Summer period (1 July until the start of the new academic year): Each Kidney Preservationist will take a maximum of 3 full on-call weeks (no individual 24-hour shifts). By scheduling complete weeks instead of separate days, the workload is concentrated and the rota is easier to organise. No one will be assigned more than three such on-call weeks during the summer.
1.5 year commitment
Mastering this role and reaching full independence can take several months. We invest considerable time and resources in your training and ongoing mentorship, making it impractical to fully train someone who can only stay for 6–12 months.
For this reason, we require a firm minimum commitment 1.5 years.
If you are currently in your 2nd or 3rd Bachelor of Medicine, you meet this requirement.
If you are currently in your 1st Master’s year, you cannot fulfil this commitment due to the mandatory full-time internship schedule. All 1st Master’s medical students are therefore ineligible (with very rare, case-by-case exceptions only).
The position starts on 9 February 2026 and runs at minimum until August 2027.
Only candidates able to honour this full two-year commitment will be considered.
Important Announcement
Dear students,
We have been informed that, due to a change in the curriculum, the start date of the clinical internships has also been adjusted.
As a result, we have updated the minimum commitment period for the program from 2 years to 1.5 years.
This means that students who are currently in their 3rd year of the Bachelor’s programme are still fully eligible to apply.
