Part-Time Student Assistant Position in Neuroscience Research

Are you a student with a passion for life sciences and interest in gaining hands-on experience in a research lab? We are looking for a motivated part-time student assistant to support our team with preparing culture plates for primary neurons.

Your function

At the Functional Genomics Department of the VU, we aim to understand how the brain functions, how neurons adapt to their environment, and how these processes are disrupted in neurological disorders. We use cultured human IPSC-derived and rodent neurons to address these questions.

Your role:

As a student assistant, you will work closely with our researchers, assisting with essential lab preparations. Your main tasks will include:

• Coating culture plates and coverslips for primary neurons
• Culturing glial cells used to support neuron cultures
• Resupplying the tissue culture labs
• Preparing tissue culture media
• Supporting scientists in their research preparations

Your profile

We are looking for:

• Highly motivated students in the life sciences with affinity for cell culture.
• Available for at least 8-12 hours a week (spread over 2 days, 0.2 – 0.4 FTE) for a period of 6-12 months.
• Detail-oriented and eager to work in an international research environment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English.
• Experience with wet-lab work is a pre.

What do we offer?

• Full training in sterile techniques for working in a cell culture hood
• The opportunity to gain practical experience in a vibrant neuroscience research lab.
• A salary of € 3.141,00 (SA) gross per month, on a full-time basis, based on UFO profile Student assistant step 4. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
• A position for at least 0.2 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 6-12 months.

About us

About the department, institute, project
The Functional Genomics department is made up of an enthusiastic, international team of young professionals, employing a wide range of experimental approaches—from molecular genetics to behavioral analyses. You will work closely with PhD students, postdocs, and analysts. The department has an informal, friendly atmosphere, and communication with colleagues is open and approachable. The working language is English.

Faculty of Science
Working at the Faculty of Science means collaborating with students, lecturers and researchers who are focused on their field, yet have a broad view of the world. We are proud of a positive and inclusive workplace culture within the faculty, where we work together with great energy and a pragmatic attitude to tackle social challenges. At the Faculty of Science, scientists and students work on fundamental and complex societal issues for a sustainable, healthy and just future.

From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, from helium to the universe and from genetics to medicine: our education and research cover the full breadth of science, from molecules to mankind. Our academic education and research are highly experimental, technical and interdisciplinary in nature. That is why we collaborate extensively with leading scientific institutes and industry. The faculty has more than 8,000 students studying in one of the 39 programs and employs more than 1,400 staff across 10 scientific departments, making us one of the largest science faculties in the Netherlands.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research.

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.