Technician to support the VIB Single Cell Core @ Campus Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde

VIB is widely recognized as an established and world-leading knowledge center in life sciences and biotechnology with an excellent reputation in technology transfer. The unique combination of strategic basic research and a clear focus on innovation & business is one of the major contributors to its success. VIB is highly committed to being the driving force behind the growth of the dynamic life sciences cluster in Flanders. VIB scientists study the molecular mechanisms that regulate the functions of the human body, plants, and microorganisms. Such mechanistic research leads to innovative insights into the normal and abnormal/pathological life processes, with the potential to use these insights to develop novel therapeutics, diagnostics, agricultural applications, and technologies.

The Single Cell Core is a novel institutional set-up to provide access to different single-cell technologies at VIB. The core is the go-to place for all single cell-related services and currently, we are looking for a motivated technician to support our routine lab activities.

The successful candidate will support the service platform to accelerate ongoing single-cell research activities within the different VIB centers at the biotechnology campus in Ghent-Zwijnaarde (Center for Inflammation Research, Plant Systems Biology, and Medical Biotechnology). As a team member of the Single Cell Core, you will support in exploring novel protocols and technologies in a diverse research context.

• You will obtain in-house training for performing standard operating procedures in high-end single-cell multi-omics technologies (scRNAseq, scATACseq, spatial transcriptomics)
• You will apply this skill set to a large extend in an independent manner, on a daily basis.
• You will perform instrument operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting
• You will apply nucleic acid analysis techniques to monitor library construction quality control.
• You will be involved in the implementation and daily operations of liquid handling/robotic systems allowing automatization of laboratory workflows.
• You will work at the interface of different disciplines and core facilities to support sample preparation, single-cell/nuclei isolation protocols, single-cell omics technologies, imaging, flow cytometry

• You have a Bachelor’s degree in laboratory science or equivalent by experience.
• You have a service-oriented mindset
• You welcome continuous training to grow expertise and know-how
• You are familiar with basic life-science techniques (such as mammalian and/or plant cell culture, tissue processing, immunohistochemistry, NGS workflows, or FACS).
• You are meticulous, well-organized, flexible, proactive, and have a sense of responsibility.
• You possess strong and precise documentation and communication skills, necessary to ensure efficient and well-organized handling of simultaneous tasks and projects.
• You appreciate an international environment
• You have a critical, constructive mindset
• You are fluent in English, a prerequisite to support research and operations at VIB.
• You have basic computer skills.
• You are a great team player

• A full-time contract
• Attractive salary package and benefits
• The opportunity to develop expertise in single-cell technologies within a strong network of scientific collaborators
• The opportunity to be part of various research projects, apply a diverse methodological skillset, explore state-of-the-art technologies and work with a large variety of experimental systems.

Starting date: as soon as possible

Please complete the online application procedure and include a detailed CV, 2 references, and a brief motivation letter explaining why you are interested in working in single-cell applications within the VIB Core Facility program.

For more information or questions, please contact Niels Vandamme ([email protected] )