Postdoctoral Position: Cryo-ET of Sperm Centrosome Remodeling & Male Infertility

Postdoctoral Position: Cryo-ET of Sperm Centrosome Remodeling & Male Infertility

VIB

Brussels, Belgium

Description

We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow to join an ERC-funded project in the Dendooven Lab focused on the sperm centrosome and its role in early embryonic divisions and unexplained male-factor infertility.

Research project

While the sperm centrosome is essential for early embryonic cell divisions, we still do not understand the profound “centrosome reduction” it undergoes during spermatogenesis and how this pathway impacts embryo development. We believe defects in this process may be key to understanding unexplained infertility.

In this project, you will determine how sperm centrosomal architecture is built and remodeled in situ. You will develop and apply implement cryo-FIB lamella preparation, cryo-ET and subtomogram averaging to resolve centrosomal assemblies in near-native contexts. You will also use immunohistochemistry to trace centrosome reduction in human testis tissue and develop biochemical assays to monitor centrosome reactivation after fertilization, in close collaboration with a fertility clinic in Brussels. Relevant recent work includes https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.0... and https://doi.org/10.64898/2025....

Profile

You have:

• A PhD in structural biology, cell biology, biophysics, bioengineering, or a related field;
• Proven ability to lead technically complex projects;
• Practical experience in cryo-EM/cryo-ET and/or subtomogram averaging, or outstanding computational skills applied to imaging data (Python-friendly);
• A collaborative, supportive mindset and motivation for clinically relevant science.

Bonus but not required:

• Experience with cryo-FIB milling/lamella preparation;
• Experience with subtomogram averaging workflows or tomography pipelines.