Research assistant

Are you an analyst with an interest in ocean research? Then the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) offers you an interesting job on the beautiful island Texel. For the molecular ecology lab we are looking for a research assistant with a passion for the profession. It concerns a full-time position after an evaluation period of 1 year.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry (MMB) studies microbial communities and their functioning in all types of marine environments, from estuaries to the deep ocean, from tropical coral reefs to polar regions, and from the present to the past. The department has well-equipped laboratories for molecular analyses and state-of-the-art facilities for bioinformatics.

MMB is an international and dynamic department and has approximately 80 members, including PhD students, postdocs and Master students from more than 15 different countries. A group of sixteen staff scientists and fifteen research assistants (junior and senior) form the core of the department. Nearly half of the core staff was recruited in the last five years creating a young, vibrant, diverse and multidisciplinary team.

THE VACANCY

• Performing molecular ecology lab work to identify marine organisms, their prey and their activity in various sample types via diagnostic PCRs, ngs sequencing, and DNA/RNA SIP.

• Introducing, informing and assisting lab users (interns, PhD students and Postdocs) with respect to the proper use of lab equipment and procedures.

• Optimizing, organizing and maintaining lab facilities like pipetting robots, ONT sequencers, a digital imager and fragment size analyzers.

• Assisting the Biological Safety Officer with administration and control of activities with GMO’s.

• Working collegially in a team and keeping daily digital administration of experiments and results.

THE CANDIDATE

We are looking for highly motivated and collegial candidates with:

• HBO/bachelor's degree in biology, Biotechnology or Medical Laboratory Research.

• Experience with DNA/RNA extractions, Illumina and ONT sequencing, qPCR, laboratory maintenance and organization.

• Cooperative, integrer and open attitude.

• Efficient, accurate and organized working manner individually and in a team.

• Flexibility to adapt to the needs of the lab team.

• Good communication skills in both English and Dutch (oral and written).

• (Assistant) Biological Safety Officer certificate .

• We want to be a transparent institute with a healthy working climate and an inclusive culture, where people from diverse backgrounds and gender bring their talents and further develop these talents. We aim for inclusive decision-making processes and expect our leadership to show visible commitment, awareness of bias, and cultural intelligence.

CONDITIONS

• Employment of this full-time position at Royal NIOZ is by NWO-I for a duration of 1 year with prospects of extension and a tenured appointment 

• Salary compliant with CAO-WVOI (Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Research Institutes) scale 8/9, scaling based on level of experience.

• The freedom to fulfil your role and opportunities for your personal (talent) development with the help of the NIOZ Academy. 

• 338 annualized holiday hours for a full-time 40-hour work week. 

• Pension scheme via ABP, 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.33%. 

• 2nd class public transportation travel is reimbursed 100%. 

• Employment benefits plan to exchange a portion of your salary for days off or vice versa or can be used to purchase a bicycle with tax benefits. 

• We offer relocation expenses for employees coming from abroad and support with finding accommodation. 

Please note that non-EU citizens can only apply for this position when they have a valid work permit for working in the Netherlands as it is not regarded as a scientific position

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about this vacancy, please contact Judith van Bleijswijk . For additional information about the procedure, please send an e-mail to [email protected] .

Closing date for applications: 2 May 2025. During the procedure interviews will be held with suitable candidates.