Postdoctoral Fellowship (05) at Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands

Organising the genome while precisely regulating its function is one of the central challenges in biology. Cells continuously sense physical forces from their environment, which are transmitted to the nucleus and influence gene expression and cell differentiation. Alterations in cellular mechanobiology can contribute to disease, highlighting the importance of understanding these processes. Our lab investigates the biophysical mechanisms that shape chromatin organisation. In this project, you will apply a combination of biophysical and cell biology techniques to explore the relationship between mechanobiology and chromatin structure. The goal is to uncover how physical forces influence genome organisation and how misregulation may contribute to disease.

We are seeking a scientist with a strong interest in chromatin biology who is eager to engage in multidisciplinary research. You will join the Chromatin Biophysics group at the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences under the supervision of Dr Jorine Eeftens. You will work closely with fellow group members in a multidisciplinary team, ranging from physicists to medical biologists. Our group maintains strong connections with the Institute for Molecules and Materials, providing ample opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration within the institutes and with external partners.

Organic and regenerative agricultural systems aim to reconcile agricultural production with the protection or restoration of biodiversity. However, the biodiversity benefits of these agricultural systems are not yet well understood. As a result, life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies fall short in differentiating the biodiversity footprints of agricultural products originating from conventional and more nature-inclusive agricultural management systems.

The aims of this two-year postdoctoral project are:

1. To quantify and understand the effects of different agricultural management systems on biodiversity (such as impacts on species richness or species population sizes).
2. To develop and apply corresponding LCA characterisation factors able to distinguish biodiversity footprints of agricultural products originating from different systems and practices.

Progress in organoid technology is hampered by the matrices that are used to grow the organoids. These matrices are typically composed of animal-derived basement membrane extracts, which suffer from lot-to-lot variability and have a heterogeneous and complex composition. These disadvantages compromise research, validation and the clinical application of organoid technology. Recent work showed that PIC gels developed at Radboud University form a suitable matrix for various epithelial organoids. This project aims to unveil the scopes and limitations of organoid technology in PIC-based matrices. The ultimate aim of the project is to introduce fully animal-free matrices into the market. Together with project partners HUB Organoids and SBMatrices, we aim to realise this goal within 2.5 years. SBMatrices will supply optimised matrix materials. HUB Organoids and Radboud University will screen for and optimise the PIC matrices to support organoid formation and expansion. Organoids of different tissues will be tested. The project will be highly collaborative between the three partners. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will be expected to lead the organoid research at Radboud University.