"Postdoc Position: Cellular Biophysics"

Job Description

Are you curious about how chromatin influences the mechanical properties of the nucleus? And do you enjoy integrating biophysics, cell biology and quantitative imaging to answer fundamental questions in biology? Then this may be the opportunity you are looking for!

Organising the genome while precisely regulating its function is one of the central challenges in biology. Cells continuously sense physical forces from their environment, which are transmitted to the nucleus and influence gene expression and cell differentiation. Alterations in cellular mechanobiology can contribute to disease, highlighting the importance of understanding these processes. Our lab investigates the biophysical mechanisms that shape chromatin organisation. In this project, you will apply a combination of biophysical and cell biology techniques to explore the relationship between mechanobiology and chromatin structure. The goal is to uncover how physical forces influence genome organisation and how misregulation may contribute to disease.

We are seeking a scientist with a strong interest in chromatin biology who is eager to engage in multidisciplinary research. You will join the Chromatin Biophysics group at the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences under the supervision of Dr Jorine Eeftens. You will work closely with fellow group members in a multidisciplinary team, ranging from physicists to medical biologists. Our group maintains strong connections with the Institute for Molecules and Materials, providing ample opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration within the institutes and with external partners.

Requirements

• You hold a PhD in biophysics, cell biology, mechanobiology or a related field.
• You are eager to expand your skills by working in an interdisciplinary field and team.
• You have excellent communication and writing skills (in English).
• It would be advantageous if you have experience with any of the following: optical tweezers, chromatin biology, mammalian cell culture and genetic perturbation techniques, live cell microscopy and quantitative image analysis.

Conditions of Employment

We will give you a temporary employment contract of 2 years. Your salary within salary scale 10 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week. You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.

We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional employment conditions: Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Employer

Radboud Universiteit, Faculty of Science. The Faculty of Science (FNWI), part of Radboud University, engages in groundbreaking research and excellent education. In doing so, we push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and pass that knowledge on to the next generation. We seek solutions to major societal challenges, such as cybercrime and climate change and work on major scientific challenges, such as those in the quantum world. At the same time, we prepare our students for careers both within and outside the scientific field.

Currently, more than 1,300 colleagues contribute to research and education, some as researchers and lecturers, others as technical and administrative support officers. The faculty has a strong international character with staff from more than 70 countries. Together, we work in an informal, accessible and welcoming environment, with attention and space for personal and professional development for all.

Department

The Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) is a leading interfaculty research institute of the faculties of Science (FNWI). Research areas of RIMLS include epigenetics, stem-cell and developmental biology, computational biology and biophysics. The central research theme is regulation of gene expression during development and in health and disease. RIMLS operates its own wet lab, microscopes and computational facilities. RIMLS currently has about 60 researchers, providing a vibrant and international working environment. The Eeftens team also has strong links with the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM), renowned for expertise in physical chemistry and soft matter, providing a synergistic multidisciplinary research environment.