Jobs – Life Sciences Researcher

• Employment: 1.0 FTE for a minimum period of one year
• A Competitive salary package
• Novio Catalpa BV in cooperation with the Biomolecular Chemistry Department of the Radboud University Nijmegen
• Required background: Degree in life science / biochemistry or a related field at higher laboratory education level, or a Masters degree in
biochemistry / molecular biology or a related field
• Application deadline: as soon as possible

With leading research into biomolecular chemistry, we can contribute to revolutionizing the healthcare of today and tomorrow. This requires curious individuals who want to push the experimental boundaries of science with their talent and expertise. As a Life Science Researcher, you get to explore the future of biomedicine with our state-of-the-art facilities.

In a variety of autoimmune diseases, the immune system targets self-components. In many cases targeting of self-components by autoantibodies occurs in a disease-specific fashion. These autoantibodies can be used to differentiate between highly related autoimmune diseases and often serve as biomarkers to facilitate diagnosis. Novio Catalpa BV is working together with the Biomolecular Chemistry Department of the Radboud University and is looking for a Life Science Researcher to assess and optimize a newly developed test for autoantibody biomarkers in blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This test is based on the agglutination of red blood cells and dependent on the presence of the most sensitive and specific autoantibody biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis, termed ACPA. An ACPA-dependent agglutination mediator has been generated by protein engineering and this mediator can be added to whole blood of a patient to test for ACPA.

The successful candidate will apply molecular biology and biochemistry techniques to produce agglutination mediators. The applicability of these mediators in ACPA-dependent red blood cell agglutination will be investigated, as well as their sensitivity and specificity. Strategies for commercialization of the test will be explored. The main findings will be communicated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.

• You have a degree in life science / biochemistry or a related field at higher laboratory education level, or a Master’s degree in biochemistry / molecular biology or a related field.
• You preferably have experience in an academic working environment.
• You have a good command of written and spoken English.
• You are a team player, open-minded, curious, and have a strong motivation to work at an interdisciplinary research institute.
• You have a strong interest in the fields of protein engineering and autoimmune diagnostics.

The position is available at Novio Catalpa BV and the work will be done at the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry of the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM) of the Radboud University. You will join the research group of Prof. Dr. Ger Pruijn, investigating the autoantibody response in autoimmunity and developing autoantibody-based diagnostics.

Employment 1.0 FTE for a minimum period of one year.

• The gross monthly salary amounts a competitive salary package, depending on previous education and number of years of relevant work experience (salary scale 7/8).
• Freelance/ZZP candidates are also invited to apply.

For questions about the or position, please contact Martin Salden, CEO of Novio Catalpa BV at +31 622258028 or M.Salden@Novio-Catalpa.com Ger Pruijn, Professor of Biomolecular Chemistry and Head of Department at +31 24 361 68 47 or ger.pruijn@ru.nl 

You can send your application to: Martin Salden M.Salden@Novio-Catalpa.com