Scientific Laboratory Technician (1.0 FTE)

The current job opportunity resides in the orthopaedics group of Companion Animals and concerns a collaboration with the University Medical Center Utrecht (department of Orthopaedics and department of Rheumatology) who all participate within the theme of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells, one of the spearheads of Utrecht University's strategic theme 'Life Sciences'.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the main cause of chronic pain in articulating joints and the lower back. It is responsible for considerable chronic morbidity in the general population and results in a reduced quality of life. Current treatment of this disease is mostly symptomatic and consists generally of pain relief by oral administration of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. There is extensive research being carried out on so-called disease modifying drugs and cell-based treatment strategies for osteoarthritis. Our overall aim is to develop and translate new treatment opportunities for osteoarthritis and lower back pain employing novel and advanced therapeutic strategies. The unique aspect of this programme is the immediate translation of the research and development from the bench to the bedside; employing small and large animal models and veterinary patients in a preclinical setting.

Your daily work will include cell and tissue culture, biochemistry, molecular biology, tissue processing and histology. Experience with processing cartilage and/or bone will be an advantage. You may carry out sampling, testing, measuring, recording and analyses of results as part of our scientific team. Furthermore, if you've got article 12, your tasks may include assistance in in vivo experiments on experimental small and large animal models.