Junior lab Leader 'Electrophysiology of Retina'

at  Radboudumc

2 years with a possible extension up to 5 years We are seeking a highly motivated and talented senior associate researcher (Junior lab Leader) to join our team in the development of functional organoids and study physiology of the retina. Would you like to join our team at the Department of Ophthalmology at Radboud University Medical Center, a global leader in multifactorial and genetic retinal eye diseases?
The research of the department is focused on retinal forms of blindness that affect large numbers of patients worldwide, especially inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs), such as retinitis pigmentosa, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Our aim is to develop personalized treatment and prevention options using metabolomics, natural history studies and genetic profiles combined with imaging parameters, and artificial intelligence. Our ongoing research activities include genome-wide associations studies, development of eye-on-a-chip and patient-specific stem cell-derived retinal in vitro models, complement assays, and antisense oligonucleotide and CRISPR-cas9 technology.
Your research interacts with these activities and involves unraveling of disease mechanisms in IRDs and AMD on a molecular level, finding leads for disease interventions and prevention. Your research takes place in close collaboration with our ophthalmologists as well as other scientist of the Radboud University.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Design and lead experiments to record electroretinographic signals with MEA and patch clamp or/and calcium imaging signals from retinal organoids and mouse retina.
• Perform analysis of recorded data.
• Collaborate with other team members to generate functional organoids for retinal research.
• Interpret data and communicate results effectively to the team and stakeholders.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Assist in the mentoring and training of students and other team members.
• Lead and expand a research group that is (inter)nationallyrenowned.

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:

• A gross monthly salary in scale 10 or 11, depending on experience, between € 3.493 and € 6.402 (for a full-time appointment).
• 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.
• 172 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. (As of 1 January 2025, you will receive 176 vacation hours.)
• An Employment Conditions Selection Model, allowing you to use part of your employment conditions to your choosing. For example, you can use your gross salary to purchase additional vacation hours or hours for providing informal caregiving. Or, for example, you can use your gross end-of-year bonus to purchase a bicycle, so you pay less tax.
• Plenty of opportunities for personal development. You can take a variety of courses in our online learning environment.
• Your well-being and vitality are a priority. For example:
• Save time for work-life balance leave.
• A 40% discount on a sports membership of the Radboud Sports Center.
• Healthy Professionals program to help you manage your energy.
• Company Support Team and a personal coach if you are going through a life-changing event.
• Financially beneficial working less through a Generation Scheme as you approach state pension age.
• Support in achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. Examples:
• Advice and courses on, for example, ‘Millennial dilemmas’ and ‘Your Career After 57’.
• Activities at our own mindfulness center.
• Informal caregiving consultations if you have questions about juggling work and caregiving responsibilities at home.
• In addition to statutory pregnancy and maternity leave, Radboud university medical center offers 26 weeks of parental leave, nine of which are paid. In addition, as a partner you can take a maximum of five weeks of supplementary partner leave. During supplementary partner leave and parental leave, we supplement the UWV benefit up to 100% of your salary.
• Pension accrual at the ABP Pension Fund. Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium.
• Discounts on supplementary packages of two group health insurances and ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• As of 1 October 2024: an allowance for your commuting costs of € 0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km one way. If you use public transport to commute, we will fully reimburse the public transport costs (2nd class). If you regularly work from home, you will receive a working from home allowance of € 2.35 per day.

The department of Ophthalmology has approximately 120 employees, holds 8 ophthalmic subspecialties, each at an academic level. Our main focus of interest lies with the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases which accounts for over half of the patient care provided by the department. Our department is internationally renowned for its expertise on retinal disease. Examples are inherited retinal diseases, age-related macular degeneration, diabetes mellites and vitreoretinal surgery.
Our scientific research lines match the clinical focus and is directed at retinal disorders. We have an enthusiastic team of researchers collaborating across various research lines. Our team includes 2 senior PI’s, 2 junior levels PI’s, one research fellow, 7 PhD students and 2 research technicians.
The department has a large clinical trial center that currently houses over 35 trials. The department’s research and clinical trials often target innovative treatment methods, such as gene therapy and RNA therapy.

• Design and lead experiments to record electroretinographic signals with MEA and patch clamp or/and calcium imaging signals from retinal organoids and mouse retina.
• Perform analysis of recorded data.
• Collaborate with other team members to generate functional organoids for retinal research.
• Interpret data and communicate results effectively to the team and stakeholders.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Assist in the mentoring and training of students and other team members.
• Lead and expand a research group that is (inter)nationallyrenowned