We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated research technician to join our team for this exciting project Antiviral compounds in vector mosquitoes. Will you join our ambitious team?

Several important human pathogenic viruses such as Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya virus depend on mosquito vectors for their transmission. This makes mosquitoes a prime target to develop intervention strategies to interfere with virus transmission and disease. In fact, the large-scale use of insecticides is still a main strategy to fight mosquito-borne diseases. However, mosquitoes may acquire insecticide resistance, limiting their long-term effectiveness, and insecticides may cause substantial collateral damage to beneficial, pollinating insects, thereby harming natural ecosystems.

In this project, we aim to characterize small-molecule compounds that inhibit virus replication in mosquitoes as a putative intervention strategies against these devastating diseases. Hit compounds from a previously performed high-throughput screen will be further characterized in adult mosquitoes and cell culture. We will use the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti, the most important tropical mosquito responsible for virus transmission as a model. These experiments will be performed in our dedicated biosafety level-3 mosquito laboratory at Radboudumc. This project is a collaboration with the biotech company TropIQ Health Science.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Perform research to identify and characterize antiviral compounds.
• Test antiviral activity in mosquitoes.
• Contribute to general maintenance of mosquito colonies.
• Analyze research results.
• Report results in English both orally and in writing.

You are able to work both independently as well as efficiently collaborate with colleagues. You are well-organized and precise: plans and executes experiments meticulously.

Furthermore you have:

• BSc degree in Applied Laboratory Sciences (HLO) or equivalent. Students who hold a recent MSc degree in Molecular Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or a related program are also invited to apply.
• Hands-on experience working in a laboratory at biosafety level 2 or higher.
• Hands-on experience working with viruses is preferred, but not required.
• Willingness to work with mosquitoes in a biosafety level 3 environment.
• Good communication skills and command of spoken and written English.

Fixed-term contract: 26 months.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• A gross monthly salary between € 2.975 and € 4.214 (scale 7M) for full-time employment (36 hours per week). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and, depending on the position, an allowance of 47% to 72% for working irregular hours.
• 172 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. (As of 1 January 2025, you will receive 176 vacation hours).

Radboudumc

You will work in the Laboratory of Experimental Virology in the department of Medical Microbiology under supervision of Prof. Ronald van Rij and Dr. Pascal Miesen, complementing our research program on virus-host interactions, innate immunity, and RNA biology in insects. Our group is dedicated to provide a social, dynamic, and stimulating work environment.

This project is part of an ongoing collaboration with TropIQ Health Sciences, a biotech company located at the Noviotech campus in Nijmegen. Read more about the Van Rij lab.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where our research groups strive for innovative solutions that make impact on health and healthcare. We challenge the status quo to overcome current and future health challenges. Our goal is to shape the future of healthcare for generations to come. Our focus is on prevention, sustainability, and meaningful care, which we achieve through our in-depth understanding of disease mechanisms, clinical science, public health research, medical technology and data science. Our approach is centered on breakthroughs that can truly enhance personalized healthcare and public health.

At Radboudumc, a comprehensive range of research programs provide the compass for our research efforts. Each program has a clear goal, where collaboration within and outside our organization is highly valued. We integrate care, education and research in partnership with our patients to ensure that our research programs have significant impact on health and healthcare. We invite you to join us in our mission to create a healthy future for all.