Research Associate 100%
Starting from 1 November 2025 or as per agreement
How does life emerge from molecules and cells? This is the central question that motivates us. With curiosity and passion, we investigate the entire spectrum ranging from the atom to the organism. The Biozentrum of the University of Basel is one of the world's leading life sciences institutes. With 32 groups and 500 employees, we are a dynamic and international research community that has spawned many fundamental discoveries in biology and medicine as well as several Nobel Laureates. Become part of our community!
The van Nimwegen group at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel is looking to fill a permanent position for a Research Associate. Are you excited to pursue your own research interests and contribute to our group's experimental research in the quantitative biology of microbes? This might be the position for you.
Projects in the wet lab of the van Nimwegen group revolve around stochastic single-cell gene regulation in bacteria, the functioning of genome-wide gene regulatory networks, and the evolution of gene regulation. Besides using a variety of quantitative techniques including flow-cytometry and in-lab evolution, our lab has developed cutting-edge methods that combine microfluidics with time-lapse microscopy and automated image analysis to quantitatively track single-cell gene expression in controlled dynamic environments. A unique feature of our lab is the tight interaction between our lab's experimentalists and theoreticians (which typically have backgrounds in theoretical physics or related quantitative fields). Many experimental projects are motivated by theoretical questions, use highly quantitative techniques, and are integrated with theoretical modeling and analysis of the data.
Successful candidates should enjoy this quantitative lab culture. For more information on the van Nimwegen Lab see our Biozentrum web page and our list of publications on Google scholar.
Ihre Aufgaben
Apart from some organizational responsibilities (10%), e.g. some ordering of supplies and lab equipment maintenance, we expect that you will pursue a research project of your own (50-80%), which depending on seniority may be supervised by more senior lab members. The remaining 10-40% you will assist students and postdocs with their projects, e.g. helping design experiments and instructing them in the core technologies used in the lab.
While candidates are encouraged to develop their own research project, we expect their project to synergize with our lab's interests. Current research projects in the wet lab include: The role of noise propagation from regulators to targets in shaping the adaptive abilities of bacterial gene regulatory networks, the role of intracellular dilution is setting the sensitivity of regulatory circuitry, the dynamics of bacterial physiology under switches between growth and starvation, and the evolution of gene regulatory networks on short time scales, i.e. across strains of a bacterial species.
Ihr Profil
Required:
- A Master/PhD degree in molecular biology or a related discipline.
- Proficiency in spoken and written English.
- Solid experience with research projects in quantitative microbiology or a related field.
- Ability to independently carry out research projects.
- Experience in successful writing and publishing of scientific articles.
- Ability to integrate in our quantitative lab culture. Notably, this requires proficiency with programming for data analysis, and with manipulation of large datasets.
Desired:
- Experimental microbiology skills including lab automation tools (plate reader, plate handling robot, etc.).
- Molecular biology and bacterial genetics (in particular chromosomal integration).
- Cloning design (e.g. restriction / ligation, Gibson, Golden Gate, site-directed mutagenesis).
- Quantitative fluorescence microscopy.
- Microfluidics.
Optional:
- Skills in flow cytometry.
- Skills in biochemistry (e.g. protein extraction, protein gel, protein purification)
- Experience with samples and stocks management, and/or lab data management.
Most crucial is that you resonate with the scientific questions and approaches taken in the lab and it is highly desired that you take initiative to actively engage with and contribute to the science pursued in the lab.
Wir bieten Ihnen
This position offers an exciting opportunity for a passionate scientist to both pursue their own scientific research and contribute to our lab's projects in a stable long-term position within a well-funded environment which offers close collaboration with theorists.
The initial contract will be for one year (renewable) with the possibility of making it a permanent position. The initial contract will be for one year (renewable) with the possibility of making it a permanent position.
Please apply online: https://biped.biozentrum.unibas.ch/apply/research-associate-van-nimwegen-lab
The application should include a brief motivation, explaining how your qualifications and experience make you a good fit for this position, an up-to-date CV, and contact details of at least 2 references.
Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Please note that only online applications via the application portal will be accepted. For general inquiries please send an email to: erik.vannimwegen@unibas.ch
