The research group Evolutionary Neurogenomics of the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) works on elucidating the impact of human genome evolution on human brain development and disorders and is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to strengthen our team.  

This project is funded by the MGH Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism (CCXDP). It will use my lab’s expertise in studying the evolutionary impact of retrotransposons, to unravel the mechanism of SVA-mediated misregulation of TAF1. We will use XDP patient-derived organoids to systematically investigate the mechanism through which the XDP-SVA affects the TAF1 locus. This knowledge will lead 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.

You will be carrying out transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling of XDP-patient derived iPSCs. This includes RNA-seq/ChIP-seq sample and sequencing library preparation as well as biocomputational analysis of the data. In addition, you will work closely together with a technician who will be in charge of most of the iPSC/organoid culturing.

You have:

• a PhD in biomedical sciences / (functional) genomics, preferentially with prior experience on mammalian (human) genomes;
• experience with all aspects of high throughput sequencing (such as RNA-seq/ ChIP-seq and post-sequencing biocomputational analysis;
• strong academic ambitions and wish to get experience in co-supervising other lab-members;
• excellent communication skills including a good command of the English language.

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

The appointment will be on a temporary basis for the period of 1 year. After satisfactory performance evaluation it will be extended with 1 more year to a total duration of 2 years. The monthly gross salary will be maximal €3,895 (scale 10-9) based on a full-time appointment and depending on relevant work experience. We offer a pension scheme, a holiday allowance of 8% per year, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% and flexible employment conditions. Conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. 

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

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science – Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences

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, centered on four themes:

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