Technicians for FLOW consortium

Join the cutting-edge FLOW Consortium at the Utrecht University (UU) or the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), where you will produce key proteins to uncover how cellular quality control impacts human disease. You will produce them from bacteria, insect, or mammalian cells. Be part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team using advanced biochemical, molecular, and cellular techniques to drive groundbreaking research!

Your job
Join the FLOW Consortium at UU or UMCG!

In FLOW we aim to fully uncover the molecular principles by which the cellular protein quality-control network influences the fate of our proteins, focussing on two paradigmatic human disease proteins: CFTR (loss of function) and α-synuclein (gain of toxicity). From their creation to degradation, our goal is to understand protein quality-control processes in detail. The FLOW consortium brings together leading research teams in Utrecht, Leiden, Enschede, Nijmegen, and Groningen. We are a unique, diverse, and highly interdisciplinary consortium that will employ a wide range of methods, including biochemical, biophysical, cell biological, computational, and genetic approaches. This cutting-edge research spans from computational analyses and single-molecule studies to cell-free analysis, and multicellular systems.

Your position will be in the Bijvoet Centre at UU or department of Biomedical Sciences at UMCG. You will be responsible for producing and purifying disease-related proteins and quality-control proteins needed by the entire consortium for their experiments. You will collaborate closely with a dynamic team of technicians, PhD students, postdocs, and principal investigators (PIs), all working together to achieve FLOW’s ambitious goals. You will directly profit from the excellent infrastructure in Groningen and Utrecht. In Utrecht, this is through the newly established Protein Research Centre. We offer a collaborative, supportive, and professional environment that values interaction and teamwork within our diverse team.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of cutting-edge research in an inspiring, interdisciplinary environment. You will be part of a project that has the potential to transform our understanding of disease-related protein pathways while working with some of the brightest minds in the field.

If you are passionate about science and looking to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply and join our journey in unravelling the mysteries of protein quality control and its role in human disease.

We are seeking a highly motivated research technician with excellent laboratory skills and relevant experience. The ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:

• Education: A degree from a University of Applied Sciences (HBO) or University in Chemistry, Life Sciences, Biology Laboratory Research (or an equivalent education).
• Technical Skills: Experience in biochemical, molecular, and cellular lab techniques. Ideally also (broad) experience in protein production and purification.
• Work Style: Independent, well-organized, and eager to learn new skills.
• Teamwork: Strong interpersonal skills, a collaborative mindset, and a flexible approach to work.
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English, and knowledge of the Dutch language (or at least willing to learn within 2 years).

Additional Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience with cloning and gene expression, preferably in both E. coli and mammalian cell lines.
• Experience with protein purification, preferably with membrane proteins.
• Familiarity with cell-culture techniques, CRISPR-based methods, light microscopy, and flow cytometry (FACS) is highly desirable.

• a 0.8-1.0 fte employment contract, which will become permanent upon positive evaluation after 1 year;
• a working week of 32- 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 3.382 and €5.057 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 8, 9 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU, or Collective Labour Agreement Dutch University Medical Centers.

Additional schemes and facilities vary for Utrecht University and University Medical Center Groningen.

The FLOW consortium consists of 14 group leaders divided over 5 different cities in The Netherlands: Utrecht, Leiden, Groningen, Enschede and Nijmegen. Together they represent a wide range of expertise and form a diverse group of researchers; the consortium includes 6 female group leaders and several of the consortium members have their roots outside of The Netherlands.

For more information, please contact the project manager Ilse Pool at FLOW@uu.nl.