Are you a team-oriented PhD candidate with an interest in molecular developmental biology and single-cell genomics? Would you like to learn and work in a multidisciplinary team in an innovative laboratory environment? If so, come and join the lively and world-class RIMLS-Science Institute and work towards understanding the mechanisms driving cellular behaviour.

We are looking for a PhD candidate to join our team to study pre- and peri-implantation human development, using stem cell derived blastoid models in the context of a national PSIDER consortium, funded by the Dutch Medical Research Council (ZonMW). State-of-the-art cell culture, single-cell multi-omics techniques, as well as computational approaches will be used to study cellular communication and behaviour at different stages of development. Team members generally perform both experimental and computational work as part of their training. As a member of the RIMLS-Science institute and Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, you will follow our four-year PhD programme at Radboud University.

You will be able to develop your teaching skills by providing internship supervision, tutorials and (optionally) lectures as 10% of your position will be dedicated to teaching.

• You hold a Master's degree in Molecular or Cellular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Life Sciences or a related field.
• You have experience in human embryonic stem cell culture, single-cell genomics techniques and/or next-generation sequencing.
• You have experience in computational analysis of single-cell genomics data.
• You possess strong analytical skills and a problem-solving, result-oriented attitude.
• You are a highly communicative and team science-minded professional.
• You have a good command of the English language, both verbal and written.

Fixed-term contract: You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).

• It concerns an employment for 0.8 (5 year contract) - 1.0 (4 year contract) FTE.
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,770 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,539 from the fourth year onwards (salary scale P).
• You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
• Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

This project will be executed at the Department of Molecular Developmental Biology. Research in our team, headed by Dr Klaas Mulder, currently focuses on understanding what determines cellular responses and behaviour in developmental and disease contexts. Our team has a strong background in human stem cell biology and in the development and application of innovative single-cell multi-omics technologies.

The department of Molecular Developmental Biology is part of the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS-Science), which is one of the six research institutes of the Faculty of Science at Radboud University. The overarching aim of RIMLS-Science is to decipher molecular mechanisms of disease. Research areas of RIMLS-Science include epigenetics, stem-cell and developmental biology, and computational biology. The central research theme is regulation of gene expression during development and in health and disease. Important tools used within the institute include next-generation sequencing, mass spectrometry, single-cell (multi-omics) analysis and computational analysis and method development. To perform state-of-the-art research, RIMLS-Science operates its own wet lab and computational facilities. RIMLS-Science actively contributes to teaching activities in the Biology study programme at Radboud University. RIMLS-Science currently has about fifty researchers (including thirty PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers) and provides a vibrant and international working environment.


Radboud University
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