Lab technician in applied microbiology and microbial biotechnology

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Department: Department of Bioscience Engineering
Regime Full-time

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Together we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. 

The University of Antwerp’s Faculty of Science is looking for a full-time lab technician specialised in applied microbiology and microbial biotechnology at the Department of Bioscience Engineering.

The Bioscience Engineering Department was created in 2006 to meet the growing societal demand for experts in biobased problem-solving across various fields, including sustainable biotechnology, cell and gene biotechnology, chemical engineering, food technology, nature-based solutions and sustainable cities. In 2015, prof. Siegfried Vlaeminck launched the Biobased Cleantech and Environmental Analysis Research (BioCLEAR), since 2024 a proud member of the Biobased Sustainability Engineering (SUSTAIN) Research Group of the Faculty of Science. The team’s mission is to develop clean biotechnological solutions and to assess the environmental sustainability of novel treatment pipelines. Key domains include single-cell protein (microbial protein), often based on purple bacteria, nutrient recovery, nitrogen cycling, nitrification, anammox and bio-accelerated enhanced weathering. The team is a core member of the European Cost action PurpleGain, the Microbial Systems Technology Centre of Excellence, the Enviromics valorization consortium, the BlueApp innovation hub for sustainable chemistry, and the CAPTURE platform for resource recovery and circular economy. The team is dynamic, international and embraces diversity.

You will be hired to support Redoxome, a spearhead research project advancing the field of purple bacteria biotechnology. Science is only starting to uncover the potential of applying purple bacteria products in sustainable and healthy products for feed and food, because of their appealing protein, pigment and antioxidant properties. This ambitious project is a close collaboration between SUSTAIN and the Laboratory of Proteomics and Microbiology at the University of Mons. Redoxome focuses on understanding the mechanisms purple bacteria use to adapt to different carbon sources and how these mechanisms affect their competitiveness in microbial communities. Cutting-edge techniques to study pure cultures and bacterial consortia at the metabolic, genetic, functional, and ecological levels will be used.

Position

The position includes the following tasks:

• You will conduct laboratory experiments and analyses for the Redoxome project, including axenic cultivation of phototrophically growing purple bacteria strains, in flasks, but also by operating batch and continuous reactors, and perform analyses of growth performance, substrate consumption and biomass characterization using techniques such as HPLC, GC, ICP, and others.
• You formulate suggestions about experimental design and methods, and assist in the development, execution and processing of these experiments.
• You actively participate in SUSTAIN’s microbial protein cluster, helping other members and projects when needed.
• You (co-)organize the laboratory and are (co-)responsible for the practical day-to-day operation of all aspects linked to cultivating and characterizing strains in the laboratory. This for instance includes practical support to the scientific team members and students, and an involvement in the implementation of our quality and safety strategy.

Profile

• You have at least a professional or academic bachelor’s degree in laboratory technology linked to biochemistry, biotechnology, environmental, biological, biomedical or pharmaceutical applications, or equivalent competences gained through prior work experience.
• You have a passion for microbes and sustainability, sustainable microbial biotechnology at the interface of industrial and environmental applications, and are highly motivated to contribute to research on purple bacteria.
• At least a professional or academic laboratory technology linked to biotechnology, environmental, biological, biomedical pharmaceutical applications,
• You have specific knowledge on applied microbiology and microbial biotechnology, including general laboratory skills, axenic techniques, bacteria cultivation, and familiarity with analytical techniques such as chromatography, microscopy, and with molecular biology methods.
• Proven laboratory experience working under sterile conditions, with additional expertise in conducting cell cultivation experiments and bioreactor runs is a plus.
• You are a practically oriented problem solver, are hands-on and eager to learn.
• You have good oral and written knowledge of English.
• You have excellent interpersonal skills to collaborate constructively and respectfully with scientific team members and BSc/MSc students.
• You are flexible, communicative, meticulous, creative, quality- and safety-oriented, cooperative and a person of integrity.
• You have good skills in planning and organisation.
• You are aware about the safety aspects of working in a laboratory, and driven to actively contribute to a safe workplace.
• You are proficient in MS Office (mainly Excel, Word, TEAMS and Outlook).

What we offer

• We offer a temporary contract for a period of 1 year, starting the 1^st of February 2025 (with the possibility of extension).
• You will receive a gross monthly salary within pay band 4.1-6.1 of the pay scales of the Administrative and Technical Staff. Your entry-level grade depends on your relevant professional experience.
• You will receive meal vouchers, ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance, group insurance, an income protection insurance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• We offer flexible working hours.
• You will have 40 days of annual leave and collective leave for 1 week when the university is closed, between Christmas and New Year.
• You will do most of your work at <name of campus> in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here and discover all the other benefits.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this job through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform until December 9^th, 2024, midnight (local Antwerp time). Click on 'apply for job', complete the online application form and do not forget to include a letter of motivation.
• The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the possible next step(s) in the selection procedure. Interviews are scheduled in the morning of December 19^th, 2024 (local Antwerp time).
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the Frequently Asked Questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerp.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Siegfried Vlaeminck: siegfried.vlaeminck@uantwerpen.be and Luis Diaz Allegue: luis.diazallegue@uantwerpen.be

The University of Antwerp is a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.