We are looking for an early-career postdoc researcher to join our on-going project investigating the evolution of seminal fluid proteins in freshwater snail species. Do you have a strong background in proteomics? Do you have experience with and knowledge of evolutionary genetics, or do you want to learn about this? We expect you to be willing to exchange knowledge communicate clearly and conduct lab work and statistical analyses independently.
We are funded by Dutch Research Council and our aim is to comprehensively identify seminal fluid proteins in the great pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. This is a part of a larger study to examine whether seminal fluid proteins evolve rapidly in hermaphroditic species.

Your duties

• you extract and identify seminal fluid proteins for proteomics
• you analyse and interpret proteomics data
• you describe (transferred) proteome of the great pond snail’s prostate gland

• PhD in Biology with relevant research experience
• knowledge of and experience with proteomics
• affinity for experiments with invertebrates
• proficiency with statistical approaches and use of R
• English language proficiency both in speech and in writing

Fixed-term contract: 3 months.

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €2,836 (scale 10) and a maximum €4,474 (scale 10), depending on your education and experience. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 1 FTE.

The initial employment contract will affect a period of 3 months. After satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, it can be extended to a total duration of one year.
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• discount on (and occasionally exclusive access to) theater performances and courses at the Griffioen Cultural Center
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge
• discounts on collective insurances (healthcare- and car insurance)

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 26,000 students. We employ over 4,600 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to around 6,000 students.
About the Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment
You will join the new Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE) in the Faculty of Science of the Vrije Universiteit. Starting 1 January 2022, A-LIFE brings together the groups of Molecular Cell Biology, Environment & Health, and Ecological Sciences, with the aim to advance the fundamental understanding of the interplay between life and its environment. A-LIFE seeks to connect properties and emergent behaviors across all scales, from molecules to ecosystems, including human populations. The research and teaching of the department covers a broad range of research topics, including ecology and evolution, microbiology, (eco)toxicology and analytical chemistry of pollutants, global change biology, and biotechnology, and the associated state-of-the-art methods and technologies, both computational and experimental. A-LIFE aims to strengthen its research portfolio at the interfaces of these themes.