Postdoc position on the neurotoxicity of pesticide mixtures

We are being exposed to increasingly complex mixtures of pesticides from our environment. There is great concern that these exposures contribute to the increase in neurodevelopmental diseases in humans, such as Parkinson’s Disease. Novel approaches are urgently needed to predict the effect of pesticides on the developing brain, and to explore their impact on neurodegeneration.

In this 2-year postdoctoral project, you will use the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to explore the impact of environmentally relevant pesticides on neurodevelopment and the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. To achieve this goal, we combine microscopy, developmental assays and molecular biology techniques, such as RNAseq. You will also work with chemists to relate the adverse effects to external and internal pesticide concentrations, thus contributing to the development of (quantitative) Adverse Outcome Pathways. You will develop a longitudinal imaging platform to assess the development of α-synuclein aggregation, a key hallmark of Parkinson’s Disease, throughout the lifespan of the worm. As C. elegans has a relatively simple nervous system, we foresee the use of the nematode to gain additional information as to how pesticides impact neurobehavior, motor function and cognition.

For this project, we are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to work on location at the VU in Amsterdam. You will be part of the Environmental Health and Toxicology group of A-LIFE within the VU, under the supervision of Dr. Samantha Hughes. Together with the team, you will present your results at national and international conferences, and in relevant scientific journals.

Your duties

• You will work in the lab with Caenorhabditis elegans to explore the impact of pesticide mixtures on neurodevelopment.
• Design and run the experiments to elucidate the impact of pesticides on (neuro)development and neurodegeneration
• Organise your work independently
• Communicate the results in a transparent and professional manner
• Supervise undergraduates and PhD students, where appropriate

Requirements:

• you have a PhD in (applied) biology, biochemistry, developmental biology, or a related field
• you will have experience working with C. elegans
• you have good wet lab experimental skills, with experience of molecular and cell biology essential
• you are a highly motivated, proactive and dedicated individual who is a critical thinker
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• A team player who can work independently in an international team

Salary Benefits:

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 3.226,00 (Scale 10) and maximum € 5.090,00 (Scale 10) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Researcher 4. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
• your employment contract will initially last 2 year.

The job profile is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 0.8- 1.0 FTE.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• child daycare facilities available on campus
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

De Boelelaan 1108