Associate Scientist

People in Science; Boxmeer; On-site; EUR 31,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation allowance

End of year bonus 3%

Job summary

This company is a leading pharmaceutical organization in the Netherlands, with extensive R&D in vaccine technologies and animal health. The D&T-Cells team seeks an Associate Scientist to contribute to cell culture and molecular assays, employing CRISPR-Cas genome editing and novel cell platforms.

You will work on one or more sub-projects, plan experiments, and report to a project leader, collaborating with virology, immunology, and assay development specialists.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Cell Biology, Virology, Biochemistry, or a related life sciences field.
• Hands-on experience with cell culture techniques and cell biology; experience with molecular biology methods such as qPCR or CRISPR-Cas, and virology techniques such as infection assays or virus titration, is preferred.
• Affinity with vaccine development and an interest in applying laboratory techniques to animal health research.
• Familiarity with GLP and SHE requirements is an advantage.
• Good communication and documentation skills, with a professional attitude and eagerness to learn in a dynamic work environment.
• Strong team player who collaborates effectively with colleagues across disciplines.
• Fluent in Dutch or English, with good spoken and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct laboratory experiments, report progress and results to the project leader.
• Contribute to D&T research projects, with primary responsibility for cell biology, cell culture and related technologies.
• Maintain, expand and coordinate mammalian or avian cell cultures using aseptic techniques.
• Perform and support virological assays, flow cytometry, transfections and qPCR analyses.
• Conduct experiments in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) requirements.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues within the team and across departments.

Skills

Cell culture techniques

Molecular biology (qPCR, CRISPR)

Virology techniques

Documentation & reporting

Team collaboration

Communication (DU/EN)

Flow cytometry

Virus titration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Cell Biology/Virology/Biochemistry

Tools

Flow cytometry

qPCR

CRISPR-Cas

Job description

• €2750 - €3500 per month, Benefits: Excl. travel allowance, vacation allowance, 3% end year bonus

This company is one of the few large pharmaceutical companies involved in the early research, product- and process development and manufacturing in the Netherlands, with one of the world’s largest animal health bioscience centers in Boxmeer. The Discovery and Technology-Research (D&T-R) department, conducts Proof-of-Concept research into novel vaccine technologies and therapies and plays a key role in interacting with the external R&D community to identify and evaluate potential new leads relevant to the company. The D&T organization consists of cross-linked teams responsible for pre-development research on biologicals against viral-, bacterial- and parasitological diseases, for animal species like chickens, fish, pigs, cows, cats and dogs. Within the multidisciplinary teams, specialists in the fields of virology, bacteriology, antigen discovery, vaccine formulation, molecular/cellular biology and immunology work together.

Work field

The D&T-Cells team is seeking an innovative, interdisciplinary scientist with a background in molecular cell biology or virology and an interest in contributing to projects on cell line development and cell culture technologies. CRISPR-Cas genome editing will be used to modify cell substrates by disrupting host-cell pathways that may enhance pathogen replication and antigen yield. Novel cell culture platforms will also be evaluated experimentally and compared with established systems for their impact on cell and pathogen production yields.

As an Associate Scientist, you will contribute to one or more sub-projects and report to the responsible project leader. You will work closely with specialists in other fields, like bacteriology, virology, vaccine formulation, immunology and assay development.

The ideal candidate has at least a bachelor’s degree in life sciences, preferably combined with relevant experience in a comparable role.

Job description:

As an Associate Scientist, you will work in one or more research and technology development projects within a team and report to a project leader. Your primary focus will be the planning and hands‑on execution of cell culture experiments, supported by cell‑based, virological and molecular assays.

As an Associate Scientist, you will contribute to one or more sub‑projects and report to the responsible project leader. You will work closely with specialists in other fields, like bacteriology, virology, vaccine formulation, immunology and assay development.

Your responsibilities:

• Plan and conduct laboratory experiments, report progress and results to the project leader.
• Contribute to D&T research projects, with primary responsibility for cell biology, cell culture and related technologies.
• Maintain, expand and coordinate mammalian or avian cell cultures using aseptic techniques.
• Perform and support virological assays, flow cytometry, transfections and qPCR analyses.
• Conduct experiments in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) requirements.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues within the team and across departments.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Cell Biology, Virology, Biochemistry, or a related life sciences field.
• Hands-on experience with cell culture techniques and cell biology; experience with molecular biology methods such as qPCR or CRISPR-Cas, and virology techniques such as infection assays or virus titration, is preferred.
• Affinity with vaccine development and an interest in applying laboratory techniques to animal health research.
• Familiarity with GLP and SHE requirements is an advantage.
• Good communication and documentation skills, with a professional attitude and eagerness to learn in a dynamic work environment.
• Strong team player who collaborates effectively with colleagues across disciplines.
• Fluent in Dutch or English, with good spoken and written communication skills.

Practical availability:

The preferred candidate is available five days per week for a period of six months, ideally starting in October / November 2026.

About the company

This company is working to help the world be well. Through our medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions to patients and animals. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching programs that donate and deliver our products to the people who need them. This company has a workforce of almost 4500 in the Netherlands at three main sites.