Postdoc - Hubrecht Institute - Utrecht

Description of the project: During every cell cycle, our cells need to accurately copy their DNA and chromatin organization. This process is essential for life, and when faulty, it leads to diseases, such as cancer. In this project, we want to understand how cells copy their chromatin, and how this is affected in diseases.

The project is in collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Nynke Dekker at the University of Oxford. The Postdoctoral fellow will use in vitro biochemical reconstitutions to characterize the interaction between key players in chromatin assembly during DNA replication, and their activity, which are established in the Mattiroli Lab. In collaboration with the Dekker lab, the fellow will use single-molecule imaging to unravel the kinetic parameters of these mechanisms. The postdoctoral fellow will benefit from the existing biochemical and biophysical expertise established in the Mattiroli and Dekker labs in carrying out experiments while independently contributing to the development of new biochemical assays in the field of chromatin dynamics and replication. Expertise in structural biology and cell-based assays is established in the Mattiroli lab to complement the research, and these approaches could be used to further expand the project. The project will be highly collaborative, with access to expertise from both groups, and with the possibility to spend time in Oxford. The successful candidate will work in motivating and ambitious environments, with access to top-class facilities.

Requirements: We are looking for a highly motivated and independent scientist, who thrives in a collaborative environment. A background in protein biochemistry is an advantage.

About the Hubrecht Institute
The Hubrecht Institute is a research institute focusing on developmental and stem cell biology. At the institute, more than 20 research groups perform fundamental and multidisciplinary research, both in healthy systems and disease models. The Hubrecht Institute is a research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and is located on the Utrecht Science Park ‘De Uithof’. Since 2008, the institute has been affiliated with the University Medical Center Utrecht, advancing the translation of research into clinical practice. The Hubrecht Institute has a partnership with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL).

Diversity & Inclusion
The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.