Postdoc position in Biofabrication Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, and Dept. of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands

Volumetric bioprinting and synthetic biology for pancreas biofabrication

A 3-year full-time (1.0 FTE) Postdoc position supported by the FET-OPEN programme of the European Innovation Council funded project entitled “Enable light- and synthetic biology-driven volumetric bioprinting of functional human tissues”. Your project will focus on the generation of vascularized, centimeter-scale functional pancreatic organoids as models to test new therapies against diabetes and as regenerative grafts for tissue transplantation. You will be performing cutting-edge research in ultra-fast light-based volumetric bioprinting technologies, new biomaterials and stem cells engineered by means of synthetic biology, to finally produce complex pancreatic models capable of performing endocrine hormonal functions. You will become a member of the Bioengineered Functional Living Systems team, embedded within the Utrecht Biofabrication research line, based at the Department of Orthopaedics of UMCU, and at the Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht. You will coordinate your work within an international network of collaborators. Moreover, collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of physicists, pharmaceutical scientists, clinicians, biologists, engineers and veterinary doctors form an essential part of the job. You will be co-supervising PhD students, and you will also be closely working with colleagues from Utrecht University (Faculties of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine). We offer an exciting opportunity to contribute to an ambitious and international research program within a highly motivated team and to conduct your work at a renowned research university. Teaching opportunities will be available, if desired. You will receive appropriate training, personal supervision, and guidance for both your research, career development and acquisition of personal funding, and which will provide an excellent basis to an independent academic career.

- You hold a PhD degree in biofabrication, synthetic biology, biomedical engineering, regenerative medicine or in a related area

- Proven expertise in biomaterial-based (stem) cell 3D culture and bioengineering, hydrogel and polymer design and processing, extracellular-matrix derived molecules, materials chemistry, cell-matrix interactions

- Experiences in synthetic biology, pancreas biology, organoids, bioprinting, diabetes research, vascularization, bioreactor systems, photonics will be positively evaluated

- Ability to work in a multidisciplinary research environment and to contribute to team efforts and projects

- Ability to communicate effectively scientific ideas, foster collaboration and independent thinking.

- Proven proficiency in written and spoken English.

The initial contract will be for a period of one year, which will be extended to a total of three years upon successful assessment.

The maximum salary for this position (36 hours) is € 4.615,00 gross per month based on full-time employment.

In addition, we offer an annual benefit of 8.3%, holiday allowance, travel expenses and career opportunities. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Cao University Medical Centers (UMC).

Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht

This position is hosted at Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht (RMCU) and you will be appointed at the Department of Orthopaedics of UMCU. Imagine a world where there is no shortage of donor organs, where we can repair or replace organs damaged by injury, disease or ageing. A world in which we can customize treatments for each individual. This is the long-term goal of regenerative medicine. The RMCU brings together the largest number of researchers in the Netherlands to address global health care problems. Our scientists, engineers, clinicians, and staff work together closely to translate scientific and technological discoveries into patient benefit. 

The Department of Orthopaedics at the UMCU is a global leader in the development of novel regenerative technologies, such as 3D (bio)printing, and it initiated the Utrecht Biofabrication Facility, a leading European knowledge center that aims at expediting emerging biofabrication technologies in areas of regenerative medicine, 3D in vitro cell culture models and therapeutic treatments. The Department is also a firmly involved in the Utrecht Advanced in vitro models Hub (U-AIM), taking key steps towards the establishment of the next generation animal-free biomedical research.