The department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, and specifically the Van Dam group is part of the MS centre Amsterdam and seeks applicants for a PhD position in Stem cells and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Your work will focus on human iPSC-based models of inflammation and MS to study microglial cell functioning in a white matter- and grey matter-like environment. With the use of various co-culture systems, sophisticated microscopy, RNA sequencing, and functional assays, you will aim to assess the differential role human microglial cells under control and MS relevant inflammatory conditions.

You will:

• Further develop white and grey matter stem cell co-cultures;
• Develop and perform experiments to address the research questions formulated in the project;
• Actively take part in research meetings;
• Authoring manuscripts submitted to scientific journals;
• Follow relevant and obligatory courses;
• Take part in some departmental teaching activities.

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student. You need to have experience with cell culturing, preferentially stem cell cultures. Affinity with neuroscience is preferred.

In addition you meet the following requirements:

• MSc in Neuroscience or Biomedical sciences;
• Good communicative and collaborative skills;
• Experience with data analysis/statistics;
• Critical attitude towards own and other's work;
• A good ability to write and read English;
• Support ‘open science’: share tools and data with the wider scientific community.

• A flying start to your career in scientific research.
• Plenty of room for personal development with a wide range of training & development of academic skills
• Working on large-scale and own research, with motivated colleagues
• The contract will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a duration of another 3 years.
• Salary scale OIO: € 3.017 tot € 3.824 bruto (based on a fulltime workweek), depending on qualifications and experience.
• Additional benefits including an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday pay. Calculate your net salary here.
• Your pension is accrued at BeFrank. A modern, understandeble en fair pension
• Excellent accessibility with public transportation and reimbursement of a large portion of your travel expenses. Additionally, we have plenty of parking spaces at the AMC location and a good bicycle scheme.

Amsterdam UMC

The department of Anatomy and Neuroscience is the home to various research groups studying diverse neuroscience topics. All MS related research within the department is part of the MS Centre Amsterdam, performing high quality fundamental and clinical research at location VUmc. Our department is located in the O2 research building. The Stem cell lab on the VU campus is where the project will start for the PhD-student to be able to learn relevant cell culture techniques. The RNA sequencing will be performed in collaboration with the section Molecular Neurobiology in Groningen.

Working at the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience means contact and working with students, PhD-students, technicians and researchers, all with a diverse background and experience.

You will be part of a collaborative project with the Stem cell lab headed by dr. Vivi Heine, located at Vrije Universiteit campus and with the section Molecular Neurobiology headed by prof. dr. Bart Eggen of UMCG, Groningen.