Research Assistant position within muscle biology

The Department of Biomedicine at Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as a Research Assistant with administrative tasks, within muscle biology as per 1 January 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for 2 years.

The Department of Biomedicine prioritizes diversity and a good work environment, as this is a prerequisite for groundbreaking research. In a diverse and international research environment, dedicated employees are looking to generate new knowledge within biomedical research areas such as infection and inflammation, membranes, neuroscience and personalised medicine. The Department of Biomedicine provides research-based teaching of the highest quality and is responsible for a large part of the medical degree programme. Academic staff contribute to the teaching. English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars. The department employs approx. 500 people from all over the world, and they make use of the department's modern laboratory-, core- and animal facilities. The Department of Biomedicine focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration with business and industry, and numerous researchers from the department have established companies to develop new medicinal treatments founded in professional scientific basic research. You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here.

About the research project

The position will be in the lab of Group Leader Dr. Ermelinda Porpiglia, an energetic and growing lab at the forefront of stem cell biology. The Porpiglia lab employs novel single-cell technologies, such as single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) and imaging mass cytometry (IMC), to study the relationships between muscle stem cells and immune cells in aged and dystrophic skeletal muscle. The long-term research goal of the lab is to develop therapeutic strategies to modulate the immune system in order to boost muscle repair.
The research will employ animal models of aging and muscular dystrophy. The ideal candidate will be an adaptable professional with strong communication and scientific skills, who is excited to work both independently and as part of a team.
We offer an exciting job where you will have the opportunity to contribute to advancing our knowledge of stem cell function and to developing novel therapies to boost muscle repair. We emphasize that new employees will receive excellent training. We especially value the good cooperation between the members of the research group.
You can read more about the research group here.

Your job responsibilities

As a Research Assistant with administrative tasks, your primary tasks are to support (i) ongoing research projects by designing and performing experimental assays and analyses and (ii) lab operation and regulation (i.e. ordering, chemical and laboratory safety). You contribute to the success of the lab by ensuring lab safety and operation and performing core experimental protocols, analysing and interpreting the data, and by maintaining a trusting and supportive work environment. In your daily work, you have a close interaction with competent colleagues.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Supporting research (animal handling, including assisting with animal experiments; tissue histology; molecular biology; cell biology)
• Managing laboratory supply needs – place/receive orders
• Planning experiments
• Performing intramuscular and intraperitoneal injections in mice
• Processing muscle tissues for histological analyses (including dissection, freezing, fixation, sectioning)
• Performing immunostaining of muscle cross-sections for immunofluorescence and imaging mass cytometry
• Performing microscopy image acquisition of muscle cross-sections
• Performing histological analyses (immunofluorescence and imaging mass cytometry datasets) using existing data analysis pipelines  
• Processing muscle tissues for flow cytometry analysis and CyTOF analysis (including dissection and dissociation, staining and analysis)
• Performing flow cytometry analysis and cell sorting of difested muscle tissue
• Performing grip strength and tetanic force measurement assays, as well as data analysis
• Documenting experimental procedures
• Troubleshooting new immunostaining protocols
• Complying with established safety protocols and policies
• Writing up research reports
• Ensuring labs’ compliance with all applicable safety programs (including chemical inventory, chemical hazards, and chemical waste disposal), SOPs, protocols, and policies
• Providing support for orientation functions including bench set up for new lab members and transition for departing lab members
• Training and supervising students and lab staff in the standard lab protocols
• Oversee equipment maintenance, inventory, and repair
• Ensure labs’ compliance with institutional IT requirements including computer software licenses and updates
• In addition, you will attend and participate in scheduled lab meetings

You will report to the Tenure-track Assistant Professor Ermelinda Porpiglia.

Your competences

You have a background preferably within the biological sciences (Cell Biology, Molecular Medicine, Medical Biotechnology), with experience in muscle biology.

You have experience:

• working with mice and experience performing grip strength and force measurement assays.
• with flow cytometry, histology, immunostaining, and/or microscopy.
• with programming.

You have knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and GraphPad Prism is required.
• Basic knowledge ordering software is preferred.
• Basic knowledge of R and Python is preferred.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a diverse population.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to remain calm and flexible under pressure and prioritize effectively to meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and operate with discretion when handling sensitive information.

Animal handling certification and Flow Cytometry Course Certification are required.

As a person, you have good interpersonal skills, are inclusive and team-oriented and able to contribute to a good work environment. You are self-motivated, curious, and eager to learn. You have a can-do attitude and are a problem solver. You show excellent organizational skills, are a detailed oriented experimentalist and a meticulous record keeper. You are committed to personal responsibility and promote safe behaviours based on training and lessons learned.

We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English.

In order to be assessed as qualified for the position, you must meet these academic criteria.

Shortlisting will be used.

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Tenure-track Assistant Professor Ermelinda Porpiglia [email protected] tel.: (+45) 42578870.

Your place of work will be the Department of Biomedicine, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 10, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

We expect to conduct interviews in week 44.


Terms of employment

• Appointment as a research assistant requires academic qualifications at master's degree level.
• Further information on the appointment procedure can be found in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
• The appointment is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• Remuneration is in accordance with the above, and the Salary agreement catalogue for staff at Health.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job description can be found in the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.

Application

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diploma
• Template for applicant - other academic positions
• A list of publications can be uploaded if relevant for the position
• A teaching portfolio can be uploaded if relevant for the position. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the recruitment system

We refer to the faculty’s Guidelines for applicants.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
 


Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/