Are you a motivated and experienced research technician who wants to support our research theme Complex Cell Systems at the Animal Science Department? We would like to get in contact with you.

As experienced technician your main task is to setup and differentiate iPSCs into muscle cells (i.e. skeletal & cardiac) and neuronal cells (i.e. neurons, glia cells, myelination). With these cells you will create functional in vitro innervated brain-muscle connections. At later stages you will also have a primary role in analysing and characterising the muscle innervation processes genetically, morphologically, and functionally. The ideal candidate would be able to culture and differentiate iPSCs or should be motivated to learn these novel skills and techniques. You will work in a team of research technicians and diverse scientists, supporting our research in developing complex cell models. Your work will also involve general lab duties and you may sometimes be asked to participate in teaching activities.

This position is part of the Complex Cell Systems investment theme of the Animal Science Department and you will be appointed at Wageningen University at Human and Animal Physiology, working in close collaboration with Host-Microbe Interactomics.

More about the project:
The widespread and increasing innovation and adoption of human complex cell system-based technologies is testament to their enormous potential as models for use in basic and translational research. Generation of innervated muscle tissues using induced pluripotent stem cells and ex vivo cultured cells is a pioneering field able to revolutionize the study of nerve and muscle physiology, development in humans but also animals. In combination with transcriptomic, metabolomic and proteomic profiling these complex cell systems promise to reveal crucial aspects of innervated muscle development, homeostasis and disease. This investment theme underpins the strong motivation within ASG to replace, reduce and refine animal experiments.

• A higher professional education (HBO) Bachelor's or university BSc/MSc degree, or a medical laboratory research (HLO) degree or equivalent, in laboratory science, medical biology, molecular cell biology, cell biology or similar;
• Experience with cell culturing and molecular cell biological techniques is required and experience with complex cell cultures is a pre.
• A professional, reliable and organised method of working together in a multidisciplinary team;
• This position requires a good English language proficiency (a minimum of CEFR B2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page.

You strive well in an international team consisting of research staff, PhD students, postdocs and technicians. You take responsibility of your tasks and help others when needed. You can organize well and oversee multiple research projects.

More about the chair group(s)
Research of Human and Animal Physiology (HAP) is focused on energy metabolism. A compromised energy metabolism is a central component of diet- and age-related diseases and affects organ and tissue function. By studying energy metabolism and in particular mitochondria, HAP want to improve metabolic health and prevent disease and dysfunction. HAP combines expertise in human-, animal-and cell-models, using physiological, molecular, biochemical and histological tools.

Host-Microbe Interactomics (HMI) is focused on molecular mechanisms of diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria and the interactions between beneficial bacteria and their human or animal hosts. HMI combines expertise in cell biology, immunology, microbiology and functional genomics to improve the understanding of the molecular interactions occurring in the crosstalk between microbes and their hosts.

We offer a position for 2 years with the possibility of 2 years extension. Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment (CAO WU). A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality, and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive salary of between €2.656,- and € 3.548,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 8). Additionally, a contract for 0.8 FTE can be discussed.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.
You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the "Best University" in the Netherlands for the 16th consecutive time.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research The mission of Wageningen University and Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branches, 6.500 employees and 12.500 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen's unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

These are the points our employees list as good reasons to come work at WUR: read the 5 reasons to come work at WUR.

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.