Technician Human Gut Microbiome

We are currently looking for a technician to support the work of the newly established group "Microbiome Engineering”. The group's mission is to explore the role of the microbiome in human health. Working alongside a team of microbiologists, molecular biologists, biochemists, and neurobiologists, you will play a key role in establishing connections between microbiome adaptation in the gut environment, human health, and the development of diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

The chair resides in the Microbiology Theme which is part of the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences in the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. In the theme the study of the Microbiome is a main area of interest where system biologists, microbial physiology experts and eukaryotic cell biologists cooperate.

The theme is central to the University Research Priority Aeras (RPAs) Personal Microbiome Health and Systems Biology of Host Microbe Interactions . In addition we play a major role in the RPA Urban Mental Health . We collaborate extensively with groups at the Amsterdam UMC, in particular those involved in Liver and Intestinal Research (Tytgat Institute) and Cardiovascular Research.

If you thrive in an interdisciplinary research team and are enthusiastic about contributing to our understanding of gut bacterial adaptation and how they interact with their host, then this position in the Microbiology Theme is ideal for you. Our international and diverse team, consists of PIs, postdocs, PhD candidates, and technicians with expertise ranging from analytical chemistry to biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology.

What are you going to do?
You will be involved in supporting the planning, execution, and analysis of experiments within the field of Microbiome Engineering. Your duties will encompass the isolation and culturing of anaerobic bacteria, (single cell)-omics procedures, and data analysis. Collaborate with the analytical chemistry facility at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences in the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam to acquire and enhance these skills, is essential.

Additionally, we are keen on investigating changes in the metabolic activity of the microbiome and the glycan structure of the adjacent mucus layer. This requires proficiency in, or the ability to develop, analytical chemistry skills. Our work involves the application of a variety of advanced imaging techniques.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• perform experiments in a systematic and well controlled manner;
• keep accurate records by properly documenting and organizing your work;
• perform sample preparation for microbiome and metabolite analysis;
• contribute to the analysis of these data;
• be an active member of the research group and take responsibility for shared tasks;
• assist in supervising Bachelor and Master students.