Research technician

Job description

As research technician you will work within the Department of Pulmonary Diseases as well as the Experimental Pulmonology and Inflammation Research (EXPIRE) lab of the University Medical Center Groningen. In this lab we perform basic and translational studies investigating the chronic lung disease COPD. We are using innovative and novel cell culturing techniques (organ-on-chip, organoid, 3D-printed culture models) and combine this with biological analysis techniques (qRT-PCR, ELISA, fluorescent microscopy, etc). We aim to better understand the pathophysiology of COPD and develop new treatments for COPD patients.

Working environment

The EXPIRE lab hosts a group of 30-35 researchers, including PhD students, technicians, post-docs and master/bachelor students. You will work closely with other technicians, students as well as physicians and clinicians from the Department of Pulmonary Diseases. Our research is embedded within the Groningen Research Institute of Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), a multidisciplinary and translational research institute.
You will work on several projects aimed at understanding COPD and developing novel treatments for COPD patients. To this end you will have to work with various cell culturing models, including primary human lung epithelial cell culture, air-liquid interface culturing, organoid culturing and organ-on-chip culturing. Our group also works on the development of new microfluidic on-chip models. Thus you will have to be creative, flexible and not afraid to try new things!

Additionally, we work on developing and improving bronchoscopic COPD treatments, which includes treatments with lung implantable devices such as airway stents and endobronchial valves. The technician will have to test in vitro biocompatibility, toxicity and functionality of newly designed or modified lung implantable devices.
As a research technician, you must be prepared to proactively participate in scientific meetings and discussions, perform general laboratory management tasks, such as ISO regulatory matters and lab maintenance work, and be comfortable to work with patient-derived samples and cells.

What do we need

• HBO or higher education level (preferably biomedical)
• You can work independently but also function well in a dynamic team
• You have expertise in cell culture, preferably human (lung epithelial) cell culture models and you have a VMT certificate
• You have experience with immunological, and cell biology techniques such as DNA and RNA isolation, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence microscopy
• You are able to independently perform data analysis (experience with Excel, graphpad prism, etc.) and report on the data
• You are creative, flexible, and like to develop novel research tools/models
• You have excellent organizational, communication and interaction skills
• You have good project and time management skills
• You are flexible in terms of working hours and can speak and write in English language

What do we offer

This is a full-time appointment (36 hours), for a fixed period with the prospect of extension (1+2 years). Your salary is a maximum of € 4.214,- gross per month (scale 7M), depending on education and experience, based on full-time employment. Additionally, the UMCG offers an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% year-end bonus.The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

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