1. You have a Bachelor degree in any of the Life Sciences or you have an equivalent level through experience. An engineering background is an asset.
2. You are passionate about flow cytometry technologies.
3. Good knowledge of the underlying principles of flow cytometry and cell sorting is an asset.
4. Experience in flow cytometry and cell sorting with different instruments; working knowledge of BD instruments (Canto, Symphony, Aria, Influx), spectral flow cytometry instruments (SONY, Cytek), or Helios CyToF is considered an asset.
5. You possess basic computer skills and knowledge of data processing programs (such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc...).
6. Experience with flow cytometry data analysis programs (FlowJo, FCS Express) is an asset, a strong interest in data analysis is critical.
7. A very good knowledge of spoken and written English is essential. Please note that our environment and team are very international.
8. Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, and a collaborative spirit are essential.
9. Important: you are able to start the position within 2 months after the interviews.
You will receive extensive training on all equipment and services that are available at our facility. During this training period, you will learn about technical aspects, how to train facility users for independent use, you will learn about experiment design and data analysis (software and analysis guidelines), and get acquainted with the overall running of the facility.
This will allow you to gradually grow into different responsibilities which are shared among the facilities team members. Once you are comfortable with the different instruments and services, together with the FACS core team members you will
10. support and assist flow cytometric analyses and cell sorting;
11. QC, maintain and troubleshoot the equipment;
12. provide consultation on technical aspects of instrument use, optimal experimental design, data acquisition, and data analysis;
13. provide user trainings (theory and practical sessions);
14. write SOPs/user manuals and keep them up-to-date to support good user practice;
15. be co-responsible for maintaining the supply inventory;
16. be co-responsible for data management (i.e. extraction, archiving, access) in accordance with the core facility’s and institutional policies.
• Who are we?At the KU Leuven Flow and Mass Cytometry core (short KU Leuven FACS core) we strive to bring technological advancement to our user base of >250 researchers and to offer access to the best available technologies as well as excellent assistance, guidance, and cytometry-related education. Our facility offers a broad spectrum of flow cytometric and accessory technologies, and we are always scouting the market for new developments that could be of interest for researchers at KU Leuven. For example, we provide access to a mass cytometer, to different conventional and spectral cytometers and of course cell sorters. Our portfolio further includes accessory instruments such as for sample preparation (Curiox), for single cell capture for multi-omics (BD Rhapsody) or for (single cell/bulk) secretomics (MSD/IsoSpark) among others. We provide high-quality training to our user base to assure users can confidently use our instruments independently; and also offer access to educational events/contents, experimental guidance, data analysis support, and software licenses. • An opportunity for you? The KU Leuven FACS core is looking to hire a technology-inclined flow cytometry expert, who enjoys providing high-quality services to our diverse user base and would like to be an integrated member of our team. Our facility is also frequently involved in technique-/technolology-focused developments and collaboration and you will be invited to join these projects. As team member, you will receive in-depth training at all instrumentation and services available in the core facility. Together with the facility coordinator and team members, you will contribute to user trainings, support users with advice on flow cytometric experiment design, support data analysis, assist users in instrument usage, and develop/improve and implement research techniques that contribute to the accurate completion of projects involving flow cytometry and related technologies.
We offer you a multifaceted job in an international and multidisciplinary work environment and the ability to strengthen your expertise using state-of-the-art instrumentation.
We offer a full-time contract initially for a period of 1 year, with the possibility of extension for an indefinite period. If you are immediately available for all assignments in this position, you will start in grade 5. Promising candidates who cannot yet take up all assignments immediately or who still have to go through a specific training program start in grade 4. (https://admin.kuleuven.be/personeel/english/salary/salary_atp.html)