1. You have a bachelor's degree, preferably as a Laboratory Technologist or equivalent through experience.
2. The nature of the cell and molecular biological preparations and analyses may vary over time and depends on the needs arising from the research.
3. You're expected to be able to respond to this dynamically, by following the domain, taking training courses where necessary and collaborating with other labs where this expertise is already present. Techniques may include: gene manipulation (including transfection, transduction), silencing and editing; creating (fluorescent) reporter cells and cell lines; gel electrophoresis, gene expression analysis (including RT-qPCR), immunoassays, histology (including immunohistochemistry). Techniques also include bioengineering technologies such as printing microfluidic chips, making micro-engineered patterns, generating organoids, hydrogel synthesis and characterization or other bioengineering technologies developed in the laboratory on which the employee will be trained.
4. You're responsible for the proper functioning and organization of the cell culture lab in support of cell mechanical and mechanobiological research.
5. You support researchers in experiments that require cell culture, as well as associated cell and molecular biological preparations and analyses. This includes implementing and enforcing VGM regulations in the cell culture lab (biosafety) and supporting and training researchers in cell culture and associated analyses, including optimizing these analyses.
6. You're partly responsible (together with the researchers) for drawing up standard operating procedures (SOPs) with regard to cell culture and associated analyses. You managee the SOPs and are responsible for compliance with them.
7. You manage all equipment in the cell culture lab, i.e. responsible for its proper functioning: regular maintenance (including monitoring maintenance contracts), sterilization, calibration, detecting and reporting defects, contact with manufacturers, etc.
8. You're expected to be able to operate all equipment in cell culture lab (incubator, laminar flow, centrifuge, microscope etc.) independently.
9. You're responsible for stock management and ordering of consumables, as well as waste management.
10. You advise on investments in equipment for cell culture and analyses and monitors the correctness of purchasing procedures.
The Laboratory of Bioengineering and Morphogenesis is a multidisciplinary and international team of PhDs, post-docs and masters students working at the interface of biology and engineering.We aim to understand brain development using in-vitro stem-cell derived organoid models. We build bioengineering tools to address the role of mechanical forces and vascularization in human brain development.
11. We offer you a job in an innovative environment with an international appeal where you will have the opportunity to further develop your talents and skills.
12. We ideally provide the recruitment as soon as possible.
13. We offer a full time or part time employment contract of indefinite duration.
14. If you are immediately available for all assignments of this function, you will start in grade 5. Promising candidates who are not yet able to take up all assignments immediately or still need to go through a specific training pathway start in grade 4.
15. In addition, KU Leuven offers many extra-legal benefits such as hospitalization insurance, group insurance, additional leave days, free commuting by public transport, a company bicycle, Samenaankoop...