We are seeking a PhD candidate / junior researcher to develop and apply an innovative on-chip technology platform for integrated neuronal analysis. This role involves collaboration with leading academic institutions and corporate partners to advance our understanding of neuronal metabolofunction in neurological disorders and neurodegeneration. Will you join our team?

The position will become available in the first quarter of 2025 (1.0 fulltime equivalent; 4.0 years) and will lead to a PhD thesis.

Neuronal cells in the brain are organized in physically connected functional networks. Proper functioning of these networks requires coupling in time and space of neuronal electrical activity, energy metabolism and redox homeostasis. Currently, a deep understanding of this coupling in human neurological disorders (e.g. mitochondrial metabolic syndromes) and aging-related neurodegeneration (e.g. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease) is lacking. This severely hampers the rational development of intervention strategies for these diseases. One of the main reasons preventing progress is the lack of integrated technologies for simultaneous spatiotemporal assessment of neuronal metabolism and function (“metabolofunction”).

In this project (“NeurO2ChipH”), the central technology-driven objective is to design, manufacture, benchmark and apply a novel on-chip technology platform for neuronal analysis. This platform integrates multi-electrode array (MEA) technology for local electrophysiological recordings with electrochemical sensing of other bioenergetic readouts. In addition, the NeurO2ChipH will allow cell monitoring by fluorescence microscopy analysis (multiplexing).

NeurO2ChipH will be carried out in a collaboration between 3 academic institutions (Wageningen University, the University of Twente and the Radboud University Medical Center) and 3 corporate partners. Neurons will be obtained using state-of-the-art cell reprogramming strategies, from patients with mitochondrial disease and mice with disturbed redox homeostasis.

In summary, NeurO2ChipH represents an innovative technology for integrated analysis of neuronal metabolofunction, applicable in basic science and intervention screening, with the potential to replace animal experiments in research.

We are looking for an enthusiastic researcher (MSc) with a proven track-record in molecular cell biology, neurophysiology, cellular reprogramming and/or live-cell microscopy. You are highly motivated to work in an interdisciplinary environment at the cutting edge of science.

Moreover you have:

• An academic degree (MSc) in molecular life sciences, biomedical sciences or a related discipline.
• A strong theoretical background in cellular bioenergetics and molecular/cellular neuroscience.
• Experience with cell culture of primary neurons and/or induced pluripotent stem cells.
• Preferentially, hands-on experience in live-cell microscopy.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• The salary depends on education. Scale 10 will be offered to MSc medical graduates; a gross monthly salary between €3.493 and € 5.504 (full-time). Those holding degrees in other disciplines will be offered scale 10A: upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€ 3.017 full-time). Over a maximum period of 4 years, you will progress to scale 10A, step 3 (€3.824 full-time). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a 47% to 72% bonus for working unsocial hours.
• 176 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week.

Radboudumc

The project will be carried out at the Departments of Paediatrics and Human Genetics of the Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen (Radboudumc), The Netherlands.

Each year, we treat approximately 24,000 children aged 0 to 18 at the Amalia Children's Hospital in Nijmegen. This represents 16% of all patients at Radboudumc. As an academic medical center, we integrate research, education, and care. We provide comprehensive care organized around the child and their family, actively involving children and parents in the care process. Our focus is on congenital disorders, (complex) tertiary care, trauma care, and maternity care.

More than a thousand employees work at the Amalia Children's Hospital. Our dedicated and passionate staff are crucial in achieving our goal of providing the best care for the patient and their family. Working at the Amalia Children's Hospital means working in an innovative and person-centered environment, where you can push boundaries and bring out the best in yourself as a professional. Take a look at our movie about the Amalia Children's Hospital.

The center management at the Amalia Children's Hospital is integrally responsible for the hospital. The management consists of three members: the business director, the medical director, and the nursing director.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare.

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then email to
Dr. Werner Koopman, Associate Professor and Research Group Leader. Use the Apply button to submit your application.