PhD in cell therapy for hereditary eye diseases: A vision for the future

Amsterdam UMC; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

End-of-year bonus

Public transport reimbursement

Bike scheme

BeFrank pension

Job summary

Amsterdam UMC Research BV is offering a PhD-track position to develop, characterize and apply patient-based preclinical models, collaborating with researchers from Human genetics and clinicians from Emma Children's Hospital and Ophthalmology to translate clinical questions into experiments and interpret results for disease mechanisms and potential treatments.

You will culture patient-derived stem cells, optimize retinal differentiation, study in vitro and in vivo models, and integrate findings

Qualifications

• Master's degree in biomedical sciences or related field.
• Practical experience in experimental laboratory research and cell culture.
• Interest in disease models and genetic variation relationships.
• Willingness to work with in vivo models and training.
• Good English communication; Dutch is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Culture patient-derived stem cells and optimize retinal cell/tissue models.
• Characterize in vitro models at molecular, cellular and functional levels.
• Develop and characterize patient-based in vivo models and outcome measures.
• Apply models to investigate cell therapy and biomaterials with preclinical transplantations.
• Integrate findings with genetic and clinical patient data.
• Present results at Lifelong VISION, Emma CPM and scientific meetings; contribute to publications and PhD thesis.

Skills

Experimental lab research

Cell culture

Stem cells

Differentiation protocols

English communication

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in biomedical sciences or related field

Article 9 qualification (advantage)

Job description

About your role

Your main responsibility will be to develop, characterize and apply patient-based preclinical models. In doing so, you will work closely with researchers from Human genetics and clinicians from the Emma Children's Hospital and the department of Ophthalmology at Amsterdam UMC. Together, you will translate clinical questions into experiments and discuss what the results mean for understanding disease mechanisms and developing new treatments.

Your tasks will include:

• culturing patient-derived stem cells and developing and optimizing differentiation protocols for retinal cell and tissue models.
• characterizing new in vitro models at the molecular, cellular and functional levels and investigating the extent to which they reflect characteristics of the disease;
• contributing to the development and characterization of patient-based in vivo models and establishing relevant outcome measures for disease progression and treatment;
• applying the models to investigate cell therapy, including combining stem cell-derived cells with biomaterials and performing and evaluating preclinical transplantations;
• integrating experimental findings with genetic and clinical patient data, in collaboration with researchers and clinicians;
• presenting your results within Lifelong VISION, Emma CPM and at scientific meetings, and incorporating them into scientific publications and a PhD thesis.

About you

• a completed Master's degree in biomedical sciences, biology, biotechnology, regenerative medicine, biomedical engineering or a related field;
• practical experience in experimental laboratory research and cell culture; experience with stem cells, differentiation or complex tissue models is an advantage;
• an interest in developing and characterizing disease models and in the relationship between genetic variation, cellular function and clinical characteristics;
• an interest in cell therapy and biomaterials, and a willingness to work with in vivo models and undertake the required training; relevant experience and an Article 9 qualification are an advantage;
• a critical, precise and persistent research attitude: you take initiative, analyze carefully and contribute ideas for solutions;
• good communication skills in English and an enjoyment of working collaboratively with researchers and clinicians from different disciplines. Proficiency in Dutch is an advantage.

Physicians registered in the Dutch BIG register are not eligible for this position.

Our offer

• You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV. The intended start date is no later than 1 March 2027.
• A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of four years. The Guideline PhD contract applies to this vacancy.
• Classification in salary scale OIO: € 3.217 to € 4.077 gross for full-time employment (depending on experience). In addition to a good basic salary, we offer 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Calculate your net salary here.
• Holiday hours: 194.4 per year for full time and a possibility to save additional hours.
• 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs. If you travel by foot, bicycle, or car, a mileage allowance of €0.21 per km applies (up to a maximum of 40 km one way by car).
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme.
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.

Watch this video with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.