We have an opening for a PhD candidate on the NEOREPAIR (Vici) project. We offer a temporary position (1.0 fte) initially for one year with an extension to four years upon successful assessment. The overarching goal of the NEOREPAIR project is to study the repair mechanisms of the injured developing brain and to optimize stem cell therapy to recover from neonatal brain injury. You will focus on mapping the complex neurogenic niches of the developing brain in health and disease using cutting-edge techniques. Deciphering the molecular and cellular processes underlying repair of lesioned areas will be the key aim of your project. New insights from this project could unveil optimization strategies for stem cell-based therapies. You will perform ex vivo, in vivo and in vitro studies together with the research team and will use a range of techniques, including omics, imaging and advanced in vitro co-culture systems. We offer an exciting and challenging position in a stimulating and dynamic international research environment in which you will generate novel datasets to drive optimization of neurorepair strategies. You will write scientific articles and present your work nationally and internationally.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated team player who meets the following criteria:

• A Master’s degree in Neuroscience, Biomedical sciences, Regenerative Medicine or equivalent relevant field;
• A strong interest in brain development, neurogenesis and regenerative therapies;
• Affinity with in vitro culture systems and (behavioral) animal research (Art. 9 license or equivalent is highly valued);
• Highly organized and independent in planning and executing experiments;
• Strong team player with excellent communicative skills;
• Proactive, responsible and flexible;
• A good command of English, both oral and written.

We consider it an advantage if you bring either of the following:

• Experience with omics datasets and bioinformatics analyses and/or programming (e.g. R), experience with in vivo or in vitro models, microsurgery, intracranial injections and/or molecular techniques.

Are you interested to join the NEOREPAIR project? Please respond to this vacancy with a motivation letter (max. 1000 words), curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages), transcript of records (BSc and MSc) and contact details of at least 2 references.

The maximum salary for this position (36 - 36 hours) is € 3.824,00 gross per month based on full-time employment.

In addition, we offer an annual benefit of 8.3%, holiday allowance, travel expenses and career opportunities. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Cao University Medical Centers (UMC).

You will be employed at the research Department DDOD in the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (part of UMCU). Our department houses a dynamic, diverse and international research team of post-docs, PhD students, (bio)technicians and students who all work to improve future outcomes after perinatal brain injury, using a range of advanced translational in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro models.

Asphyxia, a severe lack of oxygen around birth, is a major clinical problem leading to brain injury in neonates with severe long-term consequences. Our mission at DDOD is to develop new therapies to combat brain injury in newborns. One of our main therapeutic strategies is stem cell therapy to regenerate the injured newborn brain. While intranasal stem cell treatment has emerged as a promising intervention to reduce brain injury in neonates, the underlying repair mechanisms in the developing brain are still largely understudied. Deciphering these processes is the key aim of the NEOREPAIR project, which will lead to better understanding and potential optimization of stem cell-based repair strategies in the future.

We closely collaborate with the clinical Department of Neonatology. DDOD is also part of the Center for Translational Neuroscience where neuroscience research groups collaborate in an interactive environment with access to high-end research facilities and techniques. Our research is also linked to Regenerative Medicine Utrecht.

Contact our colleague:
Cora Nijboer
088-755 4360
c.nijboer@umcutrecht.nl