About your role
Your work starts with the biology inside the chip. Using human bone explants and cells, you will optimise the BBoC model for studying bone remodelling, with a particular focus on osteoclasts and their interaction with osteoblasts.
As the model develops, you will:
- enhance and stabilise the presence of osteoclasts in the system and establish reliable osteoblast–osteoclast communication within the chip;
- design and refine culture conditions, loading schemes and biological read-outs to capture key processes of bone resorption and formation;
- implement and validate the BBoC platform within the Amsterdam UMC Bone and Calcium Unit, using bone tissue from people with OI and healthy donors;
- characterise fracture healing and bone turnover by analysing cell migration, matrix deposition and collagen I remodelling, alongside soluble markers of bone formation and resorption;
- design and perform preclinical experiments with a pharmaceutical compound provided by our industrial partner, Azafaros, including dose-finding, longitudinal read-outs and comparison with current clinical standards.
You will repeatedly sample perfusates for markers such as ALP and P1NP and work closely with colleagues on advanced analyses, including proteomic profiling. Once the model is robust and benchmarked in our setting, you will focus on its core translational goal: testing a pharmaceutical compound in the OI-BBoC model.
Throughout the project, you will work closely with clinicians, basic scientists and engineers. You will play an important role in translating a sophisticated organ-on-chip device into a practical human measurement model that can support future OI therapy development.
About youWe are looking for a candidate who combines strong experimental skills with an interest in bone biology and translational research. You have:
- a PhD in biomedical sciences, bio-engineering, (molecular) medicine or a closely related field;
- solid experience with advanced cell culture; experience with primary human cells and/or bone or other tissue explants is a strong advantage;
- an affinity with bone biology and bone remodelling, including osteoblasts and osteoclasts, or a clear motivation to specialise in this area;
- experience with biological read-outs, such as RT-PCR, imaging, immunocytochemistry or histology; experience with organ-on-chip or microfluidic models is an asset;
- strong experimental planning and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to carefully standardise and document protocols.
You communicate fluently in spoken and written English and work proactively in a multidisciplinary environment. Experience with osteoclast differentiation or assays, co-culture systems or pharmacological testing in complex in vitro models is an additional advantage.
Our offer- You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
- A 12-month contract, with the intention of extending the contract for an additional 12 months.
- Classification in salary scale 10: € 3.724 to € 5.867 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.
