The Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) is seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant to join the Retinal Organoid Platform.

IOB is a research institute combining basic and clinical research. Its mission is to drive innovations in understanding vision and its diseases and develop new therapies for vision loss. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your abilities challenged, and your knowledge expanded.

The Retinal Organoid Platform uses human retinal organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells as models for inherited retinal degeneration. Therefore, the Retinal Organoid Platform is involved in collecting and reprogramming into iPSC cells from patients with retinal disease as a resource for IOB researchers and collaborators around the globe. Furthermore, the Retinal Organoid Platform is introducing precise patient mutations into hiPSC by genome engineering.

Your responsibilities:

- In vitro culture of human induced pluripotent stem (iPSC) cells and retinal organoids
- Gene editing of iPSC by CRISPR/Cas9, and full characterization of mutant cells
- Characterization of iPSC and retinal organoids by various histology, molecular biology and microscopy techniques
- Vector construction and molecular cloning
- Applying and improving new methodologies to enhance the creation of mutant iPSC
- Reprogramming of human primary cells to iPSC
- Biobanking of primary cells and iPSC
- Involvement in lab management and organization
- Close collaboration with group members and IOB groups