Senior Researcher in Human-Based Cell Models for Genetic Parkinson’s Disease

Institute for Biomedicine

The Institute for Biomedicine, located at Bolzano’s NOI Techpark, is part of Eurac Research and advances precision health by linking human data, biobanks, and advanced biological model systems. Within the PROTEO-NAM-PD project, conducted jointly with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Prof. Dr. Frank Heppner, Department of Neuropathology and Prof. Dr. Markus Ralser, Biochemistry and Systems Biology of Metabolism Group), we are establishing a human-based discovery platform for GBA1-associated Parkinson’s disease that combines brain organoid and microphysiological New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) with deep proteomics, lipidomics, high-content imaging, and electrophysiology. The successful candidate will take a leading role in the biology workstream of this project, driving the development, application, and validation of human advanced cell models and contributing to the translation of disease signatures into experimentally testable therapeutic strategies in close collaboration with partners in Bolzano and Berlin.

Tasks:

• Lead the development, optimisation, and application of hiPSC-derived midbrain organoids and related microphysiological systems as human-relevant NAMs for GBA1-associated Parkinson’s disease.
• Design and oversee experimental workflows to characterise disease mechanisms and compound responses using molecular and phenotypic readouts, including high-content imaging, electrophysiology, and complementary cell-biological assays, in close interaction with teams at Eurac Research and Charité.
• Establish robust and reproducible workflows for organoid generation, handling, quality control, and phenotypic assessment, with strong attention to standardisation, documentation, and translational relevance.
• Contribute to benchmarking organoid-based NAMs against stratified human brain tissue and other reference materials in order to assess reproducibility, biological relevance, and translational value.
• Collaborate closely with bioinformatics, proteomics, and clinical partners to interpret multi-omic and functional signatures, refine hypotheses, and prioritise targets or interventions for further validation.
• Support the implementation of workflows and quality frameworks that strengthen the scientific credibility and broader usability of NAMs, including aspects relevant to reproducibility and future regulatory uptake.
• Provide scientific guidance within the biology work package, contribute to coordination across collaborating groups, and help align experimental activities with overall project objectives and timelines.
• Supervise junior researchers, students, and technical staff where applicable, and contribute to dissemination through scientific publications, conference presentations, and follow-on funding applications.

Requirements:

• PhD in cell biology, developmental biology, neuroscience, bioengineering, toxicology, or a closely related discipline, with between 3-6 years of relevant postdoctoral experience following the awarding of the PhD.
• Strong hands-on expertise in advanced human cell model systems, ideally including brain organoids, other neural 3D culture systems, hiPSC-derived models, or related microphysiological platforms, with clear evidence of independent experimental work and troubleshooting capacity.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, characterising, and applying complex in vitro human model systems for biomedical research, preferably in neuroscience, neurodegeneration, toxicology, or translational disease modelling.
• Experience with phenotypic and mechanistic readouts relevant to complex human models, such as advanced microscopy or high-content imaging, functional assays, electrophysiology, and/or molecular profiling approaches.
• Strong understanding of experimental quality control, assay reproducibility, and workflow standardisation, including the ability to establish and document robust procedures across complex biological systems.
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary and international environment, engaging with cell biologists, clinicians, proteomics and lipidomics experts, and computational scientists.
• Demonstrated scientific output in peer-reviewed journals and the capacity to contribute intellectually to project development, collaborative research planning, and funding activities.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Desirable qualifications:

• Expertise in Parkinson’s disease biology, lysosomal dysfunction, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial biology, or related neurodegenerative disease mechanisms.
• Experience with organoid-based or other NAM-focused workflows in a translational, safety, or preclinical discovery context, including awareness of the evolving regulatory landscape around NAMs.
• Experience modifying genetic background o