Researcher-teacher Bioinformatics

MNEXT, formerly Center of Expertise Biobased Economy, forms the bridge between innovation and society together with SMEs. More than 80 employees work at MNEXT (including teacher-researchers from various Avans and HZ courses). In addition, 7 research groups are part of MNEXT: Biobased Construction (both at HZ and Avans), Biobased Resources & Energy, Biobased Building Blocks & Products , Smart Energy, New energy carriers, Biobased Transitions and Marine Biobased Chemistry.

The Academy for Life Sciences and Technology (ALST) of Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda offers 4 bachelor programmes: Biology and Medical Laboratory Research (BML), Chemistry, Chemical Technology and Environmental Science for Sustainability, Ecosystems and Technology (ESSET) and 1 master programme:Materials and Energy Transition. The academy has around 1800 students and 170 employees.

Your educational tasks will be for the BML bachelor, where we offer a minor Bioinformatics for interested students.

Bioinformatics is one of the key technologies in the modern world of biotechnology. To reinforce the development of bioinformatics research and education, a new position has been created within MNEXT and ALST, namely a researcher-teacher in bioinformatics.

As a researcher you work on research in the field of Bioinformatics and molecular life sciences. Within the research, you will work together with other teacher researchers, junior/senior researchers and interns. One of the activities is focused on the Just Transition FermiChem project: “empower the green chemistry workforce by fermentation” where data driven fermentation and green chemistry will be developed and implemented side by side of education and research. You will also be involved in a joint Just Transition project “Green EGCh” together with the secondary professional education institute Curio (mbo).

Furthermore, you will be responsible in educational tasks within ALST as a bioinformatics teacher, this includes design, review and carry out Bioinformatics classes, and guiding students in bioinformatic learning projects. As a researcher-teacher, we envision you to:

• Design, develop and maintain Bioinformatic tools for research topics related to NGS, fermentation and CRISPR-Cas data;
• Translate your theoretical and technical expertise into practical protocols for broader users, this includes junior technicians and commercial partners.
• Guide junior researchers and internship students with existing/new research projects.
• Participate in existing research projects, conduct research and/or project management tasks.
• Interact with other MNEXT research lines/groups to form steady research stream.
• Teach in ALST as a Bioinformatics teacher (up to 2 days a week).
• Design and implement bioinformatic courses to bachelor students.
• Guide bioinformatic student projects.

The research group is situated within the Center of Expertise MNEXT, a joint undertaking of Avans University of Applied Science and HZ University of Applied Sciences. By conducting practice-oriented research with students, teachers, researchers and outside stakeholders, we set the materials and energy transition in motion towards a more sustainable future. The research group is new which means there is ample scope to show initiative and explore new ideas.

More information about MNEXT's activities can be found on the website.

An environment where you have the freedom to discover and improve things; This is how we get the best out of you. We facilitate you in your continuous development, with which you then contribute to our further professional and technical professionalization. We also offer you:

• A monthly salary of a minimum of € 4.234 to a maximum of € 5.936 gross for a full-time appointment (scale 11 collective labor agreement for higher professional education).
• An end-of-year bonus, which is approximately equal to a thirteenth month.
• A contract for 1 year (1,0 fte) with the possibility of extension depending on performance.
• A good work-life balance and pleasant workplaces.
• A lot of freedom in your job with the option to work from home.

As a researcher teacher, you take parts in research projects and teach with your expertise in bioinformatics. You have a great affinity with the interaction between research, education and the professional field and you are enthusiastic about student participation in research. Avans' vision on practice-oriented research appeals to you. You can put things into perspective, are stress-resistant and 'fit' in with the informal and professional atmosphere of Avans University of Applied Sciences. Affinity to or interests in data driven methods such as oxford nanopore sequencing, bioinformatics experience and knowledge of CRISPR-Cas system would be a plus. Furthermore you have:

• An academic education, current research experience and experience in the professional field and/or science. Having a PhD/PD’s diploma is a plus but not a must.
• Experience as a Bioinformatician in the role of big data and molecular life sciences. You are able to conduct the research before, during and after the research process.
• Enthusiasm in forming and leading new research projects by drafting research funding application proposals with the help of experienced colleagues.
• Experience in guiding internship students and interest in research-education integration.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English, preferably also Dutch.

Large, but small-scale. Concerned. Personal. That's Avans. Here you can be yourself. We will give you all the space you need with your unique ideas and insights. That suits our learning and enterprising character. We offer optimally flexible education and research in co-creation with the professional field. And we continuously change with the world around us. We want to offer more and more tailor-made solutions, where students partly determine their own learning path. That is our Ambition for 2025. Discover Avans as an employer through these stories.

Do you see a great role for yourself in further professionalizing our education and research and in contributing to the further development of Avans into a knowledge institution? Please apply no later than 15^th May 2024 via the application button. If you have any questions about the content of the position, please contact Miaomiao Zhou, Associate Professor Smart fermentation, via [email protected] / 0624525005. Within 2 weeks after closing the vacancy we update you on your application.

We find our candidates ourselves, therefore we do not deal with acquisition.