Postdoc - Drug development for Alzheimer's disease 80 - 100 %

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Your responsibilities

The selected candidate will take a central role in the group's in vitro and in vivo drug-discovery programme.

Responsibilities include: (i) setting up in vitro and in vivo blood brain barrier models in the lab and test drug candidates in such models using ELISA or LC-MS etc; (ii) processing brain tissue for histological and biochemical assays, including sectioning (cryostat/microtome), immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining, fluorescence/confocal imaging, quantitative large-batch image analysis, ELISA and western blot assays for brain homogenates; and (iii) supporting cell-based assays, including mammalian cell culture, microglial phagocytosis assays and flow cytometry (FACS).

The candidate will also contribute to standard biochemical read-outs (e.g. ELISA, Western blot) and to the careful documentation of experimental data.

Your profile

* PhD degree in biology, neuroscience, biomedicine or a related field. Experience in drug discovery in neurodegeneration is a plus.

* Hands-on experience with blood brain barrier research including setting up in vitro and in vivo models, quantitative analysis of drug penetration. Experience with LC-MS is a strong advantage.

* Solid histology experience: tissue sectioning (cryostat and/or microtome), immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining, fluorescence/confocal microscopy and quantitative analysis of large image batches (e.g. ImageJ/Fiji, QuPath). Experience with staining and quantifying brain pathology (amyloid-- plaques, tau, neuroinflammation markers) is a plus.

* Cellular biology experience, in particular mammalian cell culture and flow cytometry / FACS (sample preparation, acquisition, gating and analysis). Experience with functional cell assays such as phagocytosis is an advantage.

* Careful, reliable and well-documented working style, the ability to work independently and organise large experimental cohorts, and a collaborative team spirit.

* Solid knowledge of English and good communication skills.