The MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine is seeking two research technicians to join our team in bringing stem cell-based embryo models to the next level. These two positions are part of the ‘Synthetic Embryo’ project in which these models are harnessed to assist in revealing the hidden processes of newly forming life, to battle fertility and reproduction problems, and explore the embryonic origin of diseases.

Two positions for motivated research technicians with an interest in interdisciplinary work:
- cell culture and microfabrication (Research technician #1)
- cell culture and animal experiments (Research technician #2)

Your main tasks and responsibilities are:
Research technician #1
- to start and maintain stem cell cultures;
- to characterize stem cells (including microscopy);
- to help with fabrication and characterization of micro engineered cell culture platforms (no background knowledge needed)
- supporting PhDs and PDs during large experiments;
- to carefully document technical procedures and results according to standard operating procedures;
- to contribute to (technical) discussions during lab meetings.

Research technician #2
- to start and maintain stem cell cultures;
- to characterize stem cells (including microscopy);
- collecting and analysing distinct samples;
- supporting PhDs and PDs during large experiments, including animal models;
- to carefully document technical procedures and results according to standard operating procedures;
- to contribute to (technical) discussions during lab meetings.

We are looking for highly motivated and enthusiastic research technicians with:
· a completed Bachelor, Master (HTS, HLO) or higher degree (including PhD)
· and experience in cell culture, flow cytometry, cell biology techniques (Western    Blotting, qPCR, ELISA) and immunohistochemistry.
· You are able to collaborate with the other team members, and with collaborating post-docs and medical doctors.
· You are flexible and independent.
· You have excellent communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
· For the Research technician position #2, experience with animal experiments and any certified qualification in this field is important (Article 9(/12) of the Wet op de Dierproeven (WOD, Experiments on Animals Act)).

The candidate should be able to work independently in the laboratory in the techniques described above, and must be able and willing to learn new techniques. Part of the position may entail laboratory management tasks. Knowledge of Dutch is not required.

· Fixed-term contract of 1  year with possibility of a two/three-year extension (based on evaluation after one year), full-time position. The salary will be set according technician salary scale 7/8 of the Collective Labor Agreement of the Dutch Universities (CAO-NU); between € 2.261, - gross per month and € 3.445, - gross per month. On top of this, there is an 8% holiday and an 8.3% year-end allowance. 
· Candidates who would need to relocate may be eligible for compensation. Employees relocating from abroad may be eligible for the Dutch `30% ruling', a tax advantage which results in a significantly higher net salary. The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) and local UM provisions also apply.
· A fully resourced and funded research environment, office space fostering interaction between multi-disciplinary researchers and engineers.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 18,000 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine

Much about early mammalian development is still shrouded in the dark, for a great part due to the inaccessibility of embryos within the uterus. Stem cells, when incited, can unleash their remarkable self-organizing capacity to mimic embryonic development (pre- and post-implantation) in a dish. Along these lines, we recently showed the formation of blastoids, stem cell-based artificial blastocysts (Rivron et al. Nature 2018 ; DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0051-0), that prove as a valuable model system enabling the identification of novel molecular and developmental processes occurring in natural mouse embryos. Expanding on this framework of knowledge, we seek to further orchestrate the development of blastoids and their derivatives.

This project is embedded within the MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine. Working at MERLN means you will join an international network of researchers from ~25 nationalities spanning multiple disciplines. We are a collaborative and interdisciplinary group with diverse expertise, including biomaterials, chemistry, tissue engineering, microfabrication, and cell biology. We work in newly renovated laboratory facilities with state-of-the-art equipment. We have a long history as leaders in the field of tissue engineering and are particularly well-known for our orientation towards translational research: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/institute-technology-inspired-regenerative-medicine

Within the MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine you work in a multi-disciplined and highly collaborative environment that welcomes researchers and engineers from all backgrounds. MERLN activities operate at the interface of biology and engineering and aim to maximise outreach at the level of public involvement, development, and the commercialisation of research. MERLN’s vision is based on sharing knowledge, infrastructure, and ambition. Research at MERLN is focused on developing novel and challenging technologies to advance the field of tissue and organ repair and regeneration.