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Research Technician in iPSC Engineering and Organoid Culture

Employer
UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM
Location
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Closing date
1 Oct 2019

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Closing date: 1 October 2019
Level of education: Higher professional education / University
Hours: 38 hours per week
Salary indication: €2,261 to €2,709 gross per month

The Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) is an institute of the Faculty of Science. Its approximately 230 scientists and staff members work in 16 research groups that perform excellent research, centred on four themes:

  1. Cell & Systems Biology
  2. Neurosciences
  3. Microbiology and
  4. Green Life Sciences.

The research group Evolutionary Neurogenomics works on elucidating the impact of human genome evolution on human brain development and disorders and is looking for a Research Technician in iPSC engineering and organoid culture to strengthen their team.

Project description

This project is funded by the MGH Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism (CCXDP). You will be working on a project aimed at elucidating the disease-mechanism of a progressive neurodegenerative disorder called X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (XDP). The disease leads to severe movement disorders exclusively affecting people with Filipino descent, particularly from the island of Panay where the mutation originally emerged. Recently, the cause of the disease was identified by the CCXDP, providing evidence that the insertion of a retrotransposon called SVA into an intron of the essential gene TAF1 leads to misregulation of TAF1 gene expression. The mechanism remains unclear. In this project, you will use the expertise of the Evolutionary Neurogenomics lab led by Frank Jacobs, to genetically engineer XDP-patient iPSC lines and differentiate them into brain organoids. This work will ultimately contribute to a better understanding on XDP disease progression and may ultimately provide the first crucial steps that will guide the XDP community to develop potential therapeutic strategies in the future.

Tasks

The Research Technician will be carrying out the iPSC culturing, CRISPR/Cas9 genetic engineering and perorm the differentiation assays to form brain organoids. In addition, the research technician will work closely together with a CCXDP-funded postdoc in the Jacobs lab, who will be in charge of the transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling of the organoids.

Requirements

You have:

  • a Higher professional education diploma, a BSc or MSc in biological/biomedical/bioengineering sciences, preferentially with prior experience on mammalian (human) cell lines;
  • a good (practical) knowledge of molecular biology techniques and several months of experience in a lab-setting;
  • experience with cell culture, preferentially stem cell (ESC / iPSC) culture;
  • a strong collaborative spirit;
  • a goal-getter mentality;
  • excellent communication skills including a good command of the English language.

Our offer

The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a period of 1 year (38 hours per week) . After satisfactory evaluation it can be extended with 1 more year to a total duration of 2 years. Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will be maximum €2,709 (scale 7-5) in the first year, depending on relevant work experience. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

Further information

For further questions or inquiries, please contact:

  • Frank Jacobs

For more information about Evolutionary Neurogenomics and our lab please look at this website.

About the Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 6,500, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

Job application

Due to Dutch legislation, the UvA is for non-scientific positons obliged to recruit within the EU. If you are not a EU-citizen (including Norway and Switzerland) please do not apply for this vacancy.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

Are you interested?

Applications may only be submitted online by clicking the link below.

Your application must include a curriculum vitae and a letter of motivation. Please combine these documents in one single attachment and also mention the months (not just years) in your CV when referring to your education and work experience. To enable us to process your application immediately, please quote vacancy number 19-576 and the position you are applying for.

No agencies please

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