Postdoctoral researcher

For a joint position in the laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy (Prof. SOKAL; PEDI-IREC) and the laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials (Prof. des Rieux, ADDB-LDRI) on the medical campus of the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL).

The successful candidate will engage in an inter-university research project aiming to develop a novel generation of liver cell therapy products.

Expected start date: February 2018.

Duties and responsibilities:

- Engage in fieldwork and independently plan, design and conduct research experiments to:

• Purify, expand and characterize different cell types from human liver tissue
• Optimize co-cultures of human liver cells on biodegradable microcarriers
• Characterize the cell-coated microcarriers and assess their therapeutic potential

- Assist the principal investigators in establishing priorities to ensure efficient work progression

- Liaison with other UCL departments and outside project collaborators (genomics and proteomics) to ensure success of project

- Write publications and reports. Regularly present project results at internal and external meetings

- Supervise/train students and technicians

- Contribute to everyday laboratory tasks and duties

- Contribute to the rotating "On-Call" system for reception and processing of human liver tissue (evenings, weekends and holidays)

Qualifications:

- PhD in Pharmaceutical, Biomedical Sciences, Biology or equivalent by the time of appointment, with maximum 2 years of postdoc experience.

- Knowledge and prior experience in mesenchymal stem cell biology and/or 3D cell culture models using microcarriers and/or (bio)scaffolds

- Autonomous with strong interpersonal skills

- Results oriented

- Strong organizational and project management skills

- Skills in leading, coordinating and/or supervising the work of others

- The ability to work effectively with people of technically diverse backgrounds

- Strong written and oral communication skills.

- Strong command of English is mandatory. Good command of French is a plus.

We offer:

- A full-time contract of fixed duration (1 year, renewable 1 year) with a competitive salary package

- The opportunity to work in a stimulating environment, in two highly distinguished research teams

- The opportunity to work in a translational project that should have a clinical medium term impact and could ultimately benefit pediatric patients.

Contact:

If you fit the profile description, send your CV and motivation letter to:  Prof. Etienne Sokal (etienne.sokal@uclouvain.be).