The position is open for post lauream students with a Master’s degree in science (biology, biotechnology or related fields) for a period of 6-12 months (graduation no more than 12 months before the start of the internship).

The Institute for Biomedicine at Eurac Research in Bolzano is conducting research in the fields of biomedicine, with a focus on neurodegeneration and cardiovascular medicine, integrating genetics and epidemiology data with functional characterization of molecular disease mechanisms with the view to clinical application of research findings. As part of the focus of the Translational human models group is the establishment and improvement of advanced model systems, including co-cultures of different cell types or 3D models (organoids – spheroids), with the prospective to employ them for the study of human cardiac pathologies. Multicellular models are powerful and promising tools for better recreating in vivo conditions, resulting in the best tools to study diseases’ pathophysiology.

In the Translational human models group, we work with human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and differentiate them into cardiomyocytes (CMs) and sympathetic neurons (SNs). The selected candidate will join a project devoted to improving our already developed co-culture system of CMs-SNs and establish the protocol for the differentiation of iPSCs into fibroblasts and characterization of the new produced cells.

Task: The student will gain technical and scientific experience. The student will deal with literature search, experimental work, and data evaluation. Specifically, the experimental part will include:

• iPSC culture
• iPSC-derived CM, SN differentiation, enrichment, and culture
• co-culture of iPSC-derived CM and SN
• establishment of iPSC-derived fibroblasts differentiation protocol
• real Time PCR
• western blot
• immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy
• flow cytometry

Requirements:

• Molecular and cellular biology bases
• Experience in cell culture work as well as in basic molecular laboratory techniques
• Previous laboratory in iPSC culture and differentiation will be an advantage
• Good knowledge of English language
• Knowledge of either German or Italian language is an advantage

We offer: The Translational human models group at the Institute for Biomedicine is offering a position for a 6-12 months project in the laboratory. The beginning of the internship will be discussed with the selected candidate. An internship compensation is foreseen.

How to apply: Interested candidates should submit their application (CV, cover letter and further relevant documents) by 30.09.2023.

Apply here