The focus of this role is to establish and further develop cell models to study disease mechanisms and novel gene-targeted therapies for ALS.

ALS is a rapidly progressive, fatal disease in which motor neurons degenerate. Since 2024, for the first time in 150 years of research, effective gene-targeted therapies have become available for patients with specific mutations in the SOD1 gene (<1% of all ALS patients). In this research line, we develop in vitro patient models to investigate which patients may qualify for these and future gene-targeted therapies.

The laboratory technician will develop a diverse set of skills, including the transdifferentiation of fibroblasts and PBMCs into neurons (iNeurons), screening of antisense oligonucleotides (AONs), and characterization of treatment response through live-cell imaging, staining, and possibly electrophysiological studies or transcriptomic analyses. The infrastructure, expertise, and protocols are already in place, but we hope for an active contribution to further improve these models.

You will work with a diverse group of colleagues with backgrounds in biomedical sciences, medicine, and bioinformatics, both within and outside UMC Utrecht (including the Dutch Center for RNA Therapeutics and Charles River Laboratories). This is based on informal and close collaboration with PhD candidates, postdocs, and fellow laboratory technicians on an equal footing.

At the ALS Center in Utrecht, nearly all people with ALS in the Netherlands are seen, and it is home to the largest ALS research group in Europe. Genetic research into ALS is carried out in an international collaborative setting, in which UMC Utrecht plays a central role (www.projectmine.com). We focus on identifying genetic causes and developing gene-targeted therapies for ALS. To this end, we use (motor) neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells from patients, and we are also developing new models through direct transdifferentiation from fibroblasts and PBMCs. The team consists of PhD-students with a (bio)medical background and technicians supervised by both clinical and biomedical researchers. There are international collaborations with academic and pharmaceutical partners.

An enthusiastic and eager-to-learn technician with a completed HBO/associate degree or equivalent in laboratory research, who is motivated to contribute to the development of new cell models for ALS.

• You have completed a HBO/Bachelor’s degree in laboratory sciences or a similar program.

• You have demonstrable experience in laboratory work involving cell culture, preferably with iPSC/transdifferentiation protocols and the characterization of cell lines.

• You are eager to learn, can quickly acquire new knowledge, and see it as a challenge to work in the lab and contribute new ideas.

• You are able to plan and coordinate effectively and maintain oversight of the workflow, with a strong eye for quality and traceability.

• You are a team player who enjoys working in a dynamic environment, has excellent communication skills, and is proficient in English, both spoken and written.

• The appointment is for at least one year, with the intention and possibility of extension.
• A salary between €3,126 and €4,182 gross per month (scale 7), based on full-time employment (36 hours).
• An end-of-year bonus of 8.3% and holiday allowance of 8%.
• Favorable pension scheme with ABP: we pay 70% of the premium.
• Do you travel to work by public transport? If your one-way commute is more than 7 km, these costs will be reimbursed in full. Do you walk, cycle, or travel by car? Then you will receive an allowance of €0.21 per km (up to a maximum of 40 km one way by car).
• Opportunities to continue developing yourself personally and professionally.
• Cao à la carte: choose additional employment benefits in exchange for gross salary, such as purchasing a bicycle, reimbursement of your internet subscription, and memberships.