Scientific Assay Developer and Core Facility Manager of the DrugVision.AI platform

University of Antwerp; Antwerpen; Sur place; EUR 47 000 - 65 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Parking

Résumé du poste

University of Antwerp seeks an experienced Scientific Assay Developer and Core Facility Manager for the DrugVision.AI platform. You will lead organoid-based phenotypic assays and co-manage the facility with technicians and the head of the platform.

You will oversee automated screening campaigns, data delivery for academic, clinical and industrial partners, and contribute to SOPs, quality control and ongoing method development.

Qualifications

• You have a professional or academic Bachelor in biomedical sciences, biotechnology, bio-engineering, biology, pharmaceutical sciences or equivalent.
• You have hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and organoid models.
• You have proven experience in assay development, phenotypic screening and/or high-content imaging.
• You are interested in laboratory automation, robotic handling, microscopy, image analysis and data science.
• You know biosafety and BSL-2 procedures, and handling human-derived material.
• You are proficient in Microsoft 365 and have good English; Dutch is a plus.

Responsabilités

• You lead development of organoid-based phenotypic assays and co-manage daily facility operations.
• You design, optimize and validate assays using organoids and 3D cell models.
• You plan automated screening campaigns and operate robotics and incubators.
• You coordinate projects from design to data delivery with partners.
• You document SOPs and maintain rigorous records in ELN systems.
• You supervise and train platform users, students and collaborators.

Connaissances

Organoid-based screening

Mammalian cell culture

Assay development

Phenotypic screening

High-content imaging

Laboratory automation

Python scripting

Orbits Oncology

Arivis Pro

Fiji

CellProfiler

Opentrons OT-2

Tecan D300e

ZEISS Celldiscoverer 7

LSM900

PAA KX-2

Image analysis

Python

LLM awareness

Microsoft 365

Formation

Bachelor in biomedical sciences

Outils

Orbits Oncology

Arivis Pro

Fiji

CellProfiler

Python

Tecan D300e

ZEISS Celldiscoverer 7

LSM900

Opentrons OT-2

PAA KX-2

Cytomat

Description du poste

Wat:

Frequentie: Dagelijks Wekelijks

Scientific Assay Developer and Core Facility Manager of the DrugVision.AI platform

Scientific Assay Developer and Core Facility Manager of the DrugVision.AI platform

As Scientific Assay Developer and Core Facility Manager, you lead the development of next-generation organoid-based phenotypic assays and co-manage the daily operation of the DrugVision.AI screening facility, together with the laboratory technician(s) and the head of the platform. This multidisciplinary role combines experimental biology, laboratory automation, high-content microscopy, artificial intelligence and scientific project management.

The position includes the following tasks:

• You organise activities in assay development and high-content phenotypic screening and are responsible for the preparation, follow-up and execution of the technical, logistical and administrative processes that are part of the internal operations of the DrugVision.AI core facility at the University of Antwerp
  • You design, optimise and validate phenotypic assays using patient-derived organoids and advanced 3D cell models. An extensive tumor organoid biobank is available.
  • You plan and execute automated screening campaigns and operate the robotic liquid-handling and culture platforms (PAA KX-2 robotic arm, Cytomat™ automated incubator, Opentrons OT-2, Tecan D300e, Dispendix I.DOT.S).
  • You acquire and process high-content imaging data on the Tecan Spark Cyto and the ZEISS Celldiscoverer 7 / LSM900.
  • You coordinate projects from experimental design through to data delivery, for academic, clinical and industrial partners.
  • You provide technical supervision and training to platform users, students, PhD students and third parties carrying out experiments on the platform.
• You are responsible for monitoring and steering the technical and logistical processes of the platform and for carrying out quality controls with the aim of further improving results according to applicable standards and the needs of internal and external customers:
  • You develop, document and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and keep meticulous records of protocols, optimisation steps and experimental observations in ELN systems.
  • You safeguard assay robustness and reproducibility and define acceptance criteria for screening runs.
  • You oversee compound management, logistics, sample tracking and quality assurance.
  • You maintain the laboratory equipment, follow up and coordinate vendor maintenance and service contracts.
  • You formulate suggestions with regard to experimental applications and methods, and improve the robustness, scalability and level of automation of the screening workflows.
• You are responsible for analysing, evaluating and supporting policy and/or policy implementation based on your specific expertise in organoid-based drug screening, laboratory automation and image analysis:
  • You develop automated image- and data-analysis workflows using Orbits Oncology, Arivis Pro and custom Python pipelines.
  • You develop, adapt and introduce new techniques, with current priorities including functional precision medicine assays, organoid co-cultures, siRNA- and CRISPR-based organoid screening and DRUG-seq in 384-well format.
  • You evaluate and implement emerging technologies, including large-scale organoid production using bioreactors and automated culture platforms.
  • You stay up to date in your field, and you initiate, organise and participate in meetings with academic, clinical and industrial collaborators.
  • You contribute to publications, methods and protocol papers, grant applications and scientific presentations.

Profiel

• You have a professional or academic Bachelor in biomedical sciences, biotechnology, bio-engineering, biology, pharmaceutical sciences or an equivalent field, or equivalent competences gained through prior work experience.
• You have hands‑on experience with mammalian cell culture. Experience with patient‑derived organoids and/or advanced 3D cell models is a must.
• You have proven experience in assay development, phenotypic screening and/or high‑content imaging, and you enjoy systematic assay optimisation and troubleshooting with a continuous improvement mindset.
• You have a clear interest in laboratory automation, robotic liquid handling, microscopy, image analysis and data science. Experience with automated platforms, image-analysis software (e.g. Orbits Oncology, Arivis Pro, Fiji, CellProfiler) or scripting in Python is a strong asset.
• You have specific knowledge of the assigned domain: biosafety and BSL‑2 working procedures, the handling of human‑derived biological material. Experience with omics (e.g. transcriptomics, DRUG‑seq) or with functional genomics screens (siRNA, CRISPR) is an asset.
• You are proficient in Microsoft 365.
• You have a good understanding of current LLM and how to scientifically apply them (e.g. Claude Science, Claude Code,…).
• You have good oral and written knowledge of English. Knowledge of Dutch is an asset.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• You have strong skills in planning and organisation, and you are highly organised in documenting protocols, optimisation steps and experimental observations.
• You have strong communication and interpersonal skills, and you are able to work independently while collaborating effectively in a multidisciplinary team of biologists, engineers, data scientists and clinicians.
• You are expected to be present on site.

Aanbod

• Parking

What you will be working with

• An extensive patient‑derived tumour organoid biobank, covering multiple tumour types with associated clinical and molecular data, and advanced 3D culture technologies.
• State‑of‑the‑art laboratory automation: PAA KX-2 robotic arm, Cytomat™ automated incubator, Opentrons OT-2, Tecan D300e and Dispendix I.DOT.S dispensers.
• High‑content and live‑cell imaging: Tecan Spark Cyto and ZEISS Celldiscoverer 7 / LSM900.
• AI‑powered image analysis: Orbits Oncology, Arivis Pro and custom Python pipelines.
• A multidisciplinary environment bridging academia, the university hospital and biotech and pharma partners, with national and international collaborations.
• Room to build your own methods, with opportunities for publications, protocol papers, conferences and professional development.
• We offer a temporary contract for a period of 1 year (with the possibility of renewal after positive evaluation).
• You will receive a gross monthly salary within pay band 5.1-7.1 of the pay scales of the Administrative and Technical Staff. Your entry‑level grade depends on your relevant professional experience.
• You will receive meal vouchers, ecocheques, Internet‑connectivity allowance, group insurance, an income protection insurance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• You will have 40 days of annual leave and collective leave for 1 week when the university is closed, between Christmas and New Year.
• You will do most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here and discover all the other benefits.

The University of Antwerp is a sustainable, family‑friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.