Full-Time Tenure Track: Psychology (Behavioral Neuroscience)

Amsterdam            ·           Full time

Working at Amsterdam UMC

Post-doc Neuro-immunology

Building the blood-brain barrier in MS on a chip. Are you that enthusiastic and ambitious postdoc to join our interdisciplinary team?

• Hours: 36 uur per week
• Location: Locatie VUmc
• Contract type: project
• Salary: € 3.230 – € 5.088
• React until: 31 October 2023

Apply now

The project

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating, neuro-inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system, leading to neurodegeneration. Loss of blood-brain barrier (BBB) function and consequent immune cell trafficking are key mechanisms that drive disease progression. A better understanding of the machinery that regulates this altered BBB function will lead to new ways to modulate MS. However, to date we lack insights into the dynamic alterations that occur at the BBB in MS, due to the absence of complex human in vitro models that reflect the events as seen in patients.

Therefore, the overall goal of this Gli-BBB project is to define which glia-BBB interactions underlie MS pathology by creating novel human in vitro models.

• For this, you will build unique in vitro human models based on human inducible pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to mimic pathological interactions.
• You will reveal how hiPSC-derived models from MS patients have an altered glia-BBB interaction using vessel on a chip technology and you will define how this contributes to immune cell trafficking using patient samples.
• In addition, you will test if the model can serve as a future platform for drug candidate screens and assessment of brain drug delivery strategies, with the ultimate goal to halt MS progression.

This translational project encompasses fundamental research questions, extensive analyses of MS patient material, and testing of new approaches in complex human in vitro models.

Question about this vacancy?

Tanja Hart

+31621603178

Recruitment adviseur

About your role

As a post-doc on this project you will:

• Develop and validate new in vitro models for the BBB using human induced pluripotent stem cells
• Mimic pathological events as seen in patients using these models
• Use high-end live-cell microscopy to monitor immune cell migration
• Work closely with our collaborators on this project at the MS center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC and UMCG
• Author manuscripts submitted to high quality journals
• Present at conferences
• Be involved in supervising PhD students

About you

We invite enthusiastic and ambitious junior postdocs to join our interdisciplinary team. In addition you meet the following requirements:

• A PhD degree in (neuro)immunology, vascular biology or related fields
• Experience in and affinity with (hiPSC) cell culture, organ on a chip technology and microscopy
• Excellent communications skills in English, both written and verbal
• Good collaboration skills

Our offer

• The intended start date for the project is January 1st, 2024
• The position is for 3 years. We first offer a fixed term contract for 1 year, which under normal circumstances will be prolonged with 2 years. We also provide you with the opportunity to follow further training and development.
• The salary scale will vary between NFU scale 10-5 and 10-12 depending on the level of postgraduate experience. The corresponding gross salary is €3,230 to a maximum of €5,088 for full-time employment (scale Pro, CAO UMC).
• Salary increase of 4% effective November 2023;
• Additional benefits including an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday pay.
• Your pension is accrued at The Dutch Pension Fund for government and education employees (ABP). Amsterdam UMC contributes 70% of this scheme
• We reimburse 75% of your OV travel costs (commuting costs). If you travel by bicycle, we have a good bicycle scheme.
• An active staff association and the Young Amsterdam UMC association, both of which organize activities and events.
• For more information about our employment conditions, please visit our website.

Additional information

Hepatitis B vaccination is mandatory and will be provided by Amsterdam UMC.

Bekijk alle arbeidsvoorwaarden van Amsterdam UMC

About your workplace

This joint project will be performed at MS center Amsterdam of the Amsterdam UMC, primarily in the Neuro-immunology research group (prof.dr. Elga de Vries)  Immunology Amsterdam – Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology (MCBI) (location VUmc; O|2 Building), together with the Vascular Biology group (prof.dr. Jaap van Buul; Dept. of Medical Biochemistry at the Amsterdam UMC and SILS at the UvA Science Park) and in collaboration with MS center Noord Nederland (prof.dr. Bart Eggen & dr. Wia Baron).

You will work in a team with young and enthusiastic researchers (around 30), who have expertise in immunology, biochemistry, endothelial cell biology, (clinical) neuroscience and neurological diseases.

This collaborative project is funded by an alternative for experimental animal project of the Dutch MS Research Foundation awarded to De Vries and is embedded in Amsterdam Neuroscience (amsterdamumc.org).

References:

• Derada Troletti et al., Cell Rep. 2021, PMID: 34077725
• de Wit et al., Frontiers Imm. 2019 PMID: 33633739.
• Gerrits et al., Nature Neurosci. 2022; .PMID:35879464
• Van Steen et al., J Cell Sci, 2021, PMID:34622930.

Amsterdam UMC has an open culture. This means that we hope that everyone feels welcome in our organization and that we strive to offer equal opportunities to everyone. We therefore cordially invite all interested parties to respond to this vacancy. Check out our approach to diversity and inclusion.

What to expect

• A job in our beautiful capital city
• Working for the favorite employer in healthcare (intermediary 2021)
• All colleagues have the same goal: contributing to tomorrow’s care
• There is room for development, deepening and broadening of your knowledge
• An active staff association that organizes fun activities and arranges discounts on products and services for you
• Amsterdam UMC innovates continuously, which requires a flexible attitude from everyone
• Two large locations, good for your pedometer!
• You have more than 15.000 colleagues, not all of whom you will get to know personally

Let’s meet!

During the publication period, applications will be handled continuously. If the vacancy is filled, it will be closed prematurely.

For more information about this position, you can contact Prof. Dr. Elga de Vries via he.devries@amsterdamumc.nl.

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Tanja Hart, Recruitment advisor, via t.hart@amsterdamumc.nl or via 06-21603178.

A reference check, screening and hiring test may be part of the procedure. Read here whether that applies to you. If you join us, we ask you for a VOG (Certificate of Good Conduct).

Internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates in case of equal suitability.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

Please click here to apply.