Job Description

1 - Working at the VUB

Are you our Laboratory Technician who is keen to get stuck into the field of Frailty & Resilience in Ageing and looking forward to the next step in your career?

VUB is always looking for new talent to grow with us.

For almost 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and connectedness. These values are strongly present on our campuses, in our students as well as our staff. At the VUB, you’ll find a diverse collection of personalities: pure innovators and especially people who are 100% their authentic selves With about 3.500 employees, we are the largest Flemish-speaking employer in Brussels, an international city with which we are all too happy to be connected, and around which our four campuses are located.

2 - Position Description

As a Laboratory Technician, you will join the Frailty & Resilience in Ageing research group. This group is an interdisciplinary team at the VUB/UZ Brussels consisting of 14 senior, 4 post-doc and 17 pre-doc researchers and 4 research assistants.

FRIA offers access to up-to-date research infrastructure and an extensive (inter)national network. Our work focuses on fundamental and clinical research aimed at reducing frailty in older adults.

Your tasks will include, among others:

• Cell culture of human cells
• Tissue culture
• RNA and DNA extraction from samples of study participants
• RNA and protein analysis (scRNA-seq, RT-PCR, Western Blotting, immunostainings, ELISA, SIMOA assays, cytometric bead array)
• Flow cytometric analyses
• Microscopy/imaging
• Administrative and logistical tasks
• Managing laboratory material stock

In this role, you will work closely with other researchers, including PhD candidates, postdocs and professors, and report regularly to Prof. Bautmans. Your main workplace will be VUB Campus Jette

3 - Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated and conscientious person who can work independently as well as in a team, holding a professional bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Biomedical, Biochemical, Biotechnological Laboratory Techniques or a related field.

The successful candidate ideally has experience with most of the following:

• Processing blood samples

• Cell culture (PBMC and muscle cells)

• Tissue culture

• RNA and DNA extraction

• RNA and protein analysis (RT-PCR, Western Blotting, immunostainings, ELISA, scRNA-seq, SIMOA assays, cytometric bead array)

• Flow cytometry

• Microscopy

• Data management & biobank management

• Good knowledge of Dutch and English

• Routine software skills (MS Office)

• As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here

VUB aims to reflect society, where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, sex, age, religion, skin colour, migration background, disability, and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Will you be our new colleague? We offer a full-time fixed-term contract (with the possibility of renewal), with a salary corresponding to grade 4 or 5 depending on your skills and relevant experience.

At VUB, we guarantee an open, engaged and diverse workplace, and we offer opportunities to further develop your career. Additionally, you will benefit from:

• Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;
• Cost-free hospitalisation and group insurance with guaranteed income;
• The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;
• Excellent facilities for sport and exercise;
• Ecocheques;
• Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants;
• An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract).

5 - Interested?

Does this role appeal to you?

Please upload the following documents via our VUB job site before 19/03/2025:

• Your CV

• Motivation letter

• Highest obtained diploma (not required for VUB alumni).

• Recommendation letters are highly appreciated.

Our selection process consists of:

Step 1: CV screening by one of our recruiters.
Step 2: You will soon receive feedback regarding the status of your application.
Step 3: You will be invited for an exploratory interview, possibly combined with a practical test (subject to change).

Contact us!

Questions about the job content or selection procedure? Contact Prof. Ivan Bautmans at ivan.bautmans@vub.be

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB?

Go to www.jobs.vub.be and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.