Postdoctoral Position in Cryo-Electron Tomography of Systemic Amyloidosis

Postdoctoral Position in Cryo-Electron Tomography of Systemic Amyloidosis

VIB

Leuven, Belgium

About the project

Systemic amyloidosis comprises severe protein misfolding diseases in which amyloid fibrils accumulate across multiple organs, leading to progressive dysfunction. AL (light‑chain) and ATTR (transthyretin) amyloidosis are the most common systemic forms, with distinct molecular origins but shared mechanisms of extracellular amyloid deposition and tissue damage.

Our research program focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of systemic amyloid deposition, with particular emphasis on AL and ATTR amyloidosis. We use in situ structural approaches to visualize amyloid assemblies and their cellular interactions, supported by strong clinical collaborations and access to well‑characterized patient samples.

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to apply cryo‑electron tomography (cryo‑ET) to study in situ amyloid deposition and amyloid–cell interactions in experimental models and human tissues. This project is part of the BE.Amycon VIB Grand Challenges initiative, which is building a national reference framework for systemic amyloidosis and promoting translational research to improve diagnosis and patient care.

About the lab

The SWITCH Laboratory is a leading center for research on protein aggregation in human disease. We are an interdisciplinary team of ~25 researchers with expertise spanning bioinformatics, biophysics, and cell biology. SWITCH hosts a unique suite of technologies for studying protein aggregation, including advanced biophysical, ultrastructural, and cell‑biological platforms.

About the role

The successful candidate will use state-of-the-art cryo-ET to investigate amyloid formation, organization, and interactions across multiple biological systems.

• Evaluation of cellular and animal models of systemic amyloidosis;
• Visualization of amyloid deposition and interactions in situ at molecular resolution;
• Comparative analysis across experimental models and patient-derived specimens;
• Extension of these observations to clinical samples from patients with systemic amyloidosis, including ATTR and AL amyloidosis;
• Integration of cryo-ET, subtomogram averaging, and structural analysis to postulate a mechanistic framework for systemic amyloid deposition and pathology.

This project bridges structural biology, cell biology, and translational disease research, and offers strong opportunities for methodological development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and high-impact publications.

Your profile

We are looking for candidates who bring strong motivation and curiosity, and who are eager to grow technically and scientifically. The ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD in structural biology, biophysics, cell biology, biochemistry, or a related field;
• Hands-on experience in cryo-electron microscopy for the determination of protein structures;
• Experience in amyloid structure determination, electron tomography, and subtomogram averaging is an advantage, but candidates currently training or transitioning into these areas are encouraged to apply;
• Experience in specimen preparation for cryo-electron tomography, including cryo-FIB/SEM lamella preparation and/or cryo-ultramicrotomy, is a strong advantage; prior exposure or clear motivation to learn these techniques is also highly valued;
• Basic programming or scripting skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Bash) are a plus;
• Prior experience in amyloid biology, protein aggregation, or disease-related structural research are an advantage;
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment;
• Adaptability and flexibility to thrive in a changing research environment and to adjust to evolving priorities.