The generation of neuronal cells in Parkinson's disease (PD) holds the potential to restore brain function. The human brain has a limited capacity to repair spontaneously, which is surprising given that neural stem cells (NSCs) remain in the diseased brain. In this project the postdoctoral researcher will determine whether NSCs from PD patients can wake-up if subjected to appropriate stimuli and produce dopaminergic neurons to repair the PD brain.

About your role
The postdoctoral researcher will use state-of-the-art techniques including brain organoids, primary human NSC isolation and (single-cell) omics.

• You have a recent PhD degree in Neuroscience or stem cell biology;
• Experience with cell culture and organoid culture is required;
• Experience with cellular biology techniques is required;
• Experience with RNAseq analysis is a bonus;
• Proficiency in English;
• You are a team player, well-organized, and highly motivated.

• A contract for 24 months;
• Salary schale 10 - 10.6: € 3.230 - € 4.177 gross at full time employment (depending on qualifications and experience) for 36 hours per week.;
• Additional benefits including an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday pay;
• Pension is accrued at the ABP. VUmc contributes a large part of the premium (70%);
• In addition to excellent accessibility by public transport, we reimburse 75% of your OV travel costs (commuting costs);
• Free and unlimited access to the training offer of our online learning environment GoodHabitz
• For more information about our fringe benefits, please visit: employment conditions.

Amsterdam UMC

The Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences at Amsterdam UMC, location VU University Medical Center offers a multidisciplinary environment for research and (post)academic education. With internationally acclaimed research programs, the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases and (neuro)psychiatric disorders is investigated from macro- to microscopic and molecular scale.

Within the department, the Clinical Neuroanatomy and Biobanking (CNAB) section aims to translate basic preclinical research on Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease to the clinical setting and vice versa. This multidisciplinary section combines molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuropathology and high-tech post-mortem and in vivo imaging techniques to the clinical setting where patients are investigated, monitored, and treated. For more information we invite you to take a look on the anatomy & neurosciences website or the Normal Aging Brain Collection Amsterdam website.

Within the CNAB section the Neurorepair team headed by Dr. Vanessa Donega investigates the regenerative potential of the aging human brain by combining state-of-the-art techniques including brain organoids, (single-cell) omics, and high-end microscopy.