Research Associate - Mitochondrial Therapy Translational

Research Associate - Mitochondrial Therapy Translational

IOB - Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel

Basel, Switzerland

The Mitochondrial Biology and Therapy Group investigates how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to neurodegeneration and develops therapeutic strategies for these diseases. A major focus is the development of cell-type-targeted mitochondrial transfer therapies. To accelerate this work, we are establishing genome-wide CRISPR screening as a discovery platform to identify genes and pathways that govern donor mitochondria internalization and integration. In this role you will design, execute, and analyze pooled CRISPR knockout, activation, and interference screens to uncover novel therapeutic targets and contribute to the group's translational programs.

Your responsibilities

• Design and execute genome-wide CRISPR knockout, CRISPRa, and CRISPRi screens in mammalian cell models;
• Validate screening hits using arrayed CRISPR experiments and orthogonal functional assays in relevant disease models;
• Establish, optimize, and routinely perform cell-line generation workflows using mitochondrial transfer in immortalized and primary cells;
• Generate and analyze NGS and RNA-seq data from primary tissues and cultured cells;
• Develop and optimize cell-type-targeted mitochondrial transfer approaches in relevant in vitro and ex vivo models;
• Independently design, perform, document, and interpret experiments in a rigorous and reproducible manner;
• Work closely with technical staff and help supervise research assistants while remaining experimentally active;
• Contribute experimentally to translational documentation, regulatory preparation, and clinical protocol development;
• Present experimental results internally, to collaborators, and at international conferences;
• Mentor junior lab members through direct experimental guidance and training.

Requirements

• PhD in biology, cell biology, molecular medicine, or a related field;
• Strong hands-on experience with CRISPR-based screening and NGS analysis;
• Solid background in cell culture, molecular biology, and in vitro functional assays;
• Experience with recombinant protein production;
• Experience with RNA sequencing is desirable;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage large-scale, multi-step experiments;
• Experience working under BSL-2 conditions;
• Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to experimental detail;
• Clear scientific communication skills and a collaborative working style.