Laboratory Technician in Chromatin Biology (m/f/d)

The Kubicek laboratory at CeMM, the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, is recruiting a highly motivated Laboratory Technician working on the interface of cell biology, epigenetics and chemical biology.

The position

The successful applicant will work as part of an international team together with students and postdocs in the Kubicek laboratory to explore the role of small molecules to control chromatin structure and gene expression. The research combines approaches of chemical and genetic screening with deep functional and mechanistic characterization of the impact of metabolic enzymes on chromatin structure, gene expression, and cell identity. Thus, the candidate will be trained in a variety of techniques, including screening, proteomics and epigenomics. In addition to project-specific work, responsibilities further include laboratory organization and managing purchases for the research group. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to work in an innovative research environment and collaborate closely with other groups at CeMM.

The candidate

The successful candidate will have a degree in biology, chemistry or biotechnology (MTA, CTA, B.Sc., M.Sc., Mag., DI, Ph.D.) and previous experience with molecular, cellular or chemical biology. Expertise in screening, bioinformatics, genome editing, small molecule probe development, and epigenetics is considered a plus. The working language at CeMM is English, and excellent written and oral communication skills as well as high accuracy, reliability and excellent interpersonal and organizational skills are a requirement.

The Kubicek Lab

The Kubicek laboratory is working on the role of chromatin in the definition of cell types and cell states, and the use of chemistry to modulate epigenetic states. Recent publications uncover the roles of epigenetic factors and small molecule drugs in pancreatic islet cell identity (Casteels et al. 2022; Enders et al. 2023; Marquina-Sanchez 2020; Li et al. Cell 2017, Li et. al EMBO Rep. 2016), and cancer cell proliferation (Schick, Grosche, Kohl et al. Nat. Genet. 2021; Schick et al. Nat. Genet. 2019, Sdelci et al. Nat. Genet. 2019, Licciardello et al. Nat. Chem. Biol. 2017, Sdelci et al. Nat. Chem. Biol. 2017).

The Principal Investigator

Stefan Kubicek joined CeMM in 2010. He obtained an MSc in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the Vienna University of Technology after writing a diploma thesis at ETH Zurich. For his PhD in Thomas Jenuwein’s lab at the IMP in Vienna, he changed fields to molecular biology and developed the first selective histone methyl transferase inhibitors. He then performed postdoctoral research, working on chemical biology with Stuart Schreiber at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT. At CeMM,   Stefan Kubicek headed the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Chemical Epigenetics and   Antiinfectives, a public-private partnership between CeMM, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Haplogen,   and is now the head of the CeMM Molecular Discovery Platform. The Kubicek lab is working on the role of chromatin in the definition of cell types and cell states, in particular chromatin-modifying enzymes as synthetic lethal targets in cancer and chemical transdifferentiation to insulin-producing beta cells. In an ERC-funded project, the laboratory studies metabolic enzymes in the cell’s nucleus to test the hypothesis that small molecule metabolites shape chromatin structure and thus control gene expression and cell identity.

About the Institute

CeMM is an international research institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and a founding member of EU-LIFE. The mission of CeMM, the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the   Austrian Academy of Sciences is to achieve maximum scientific innovation in molecular medicine to improve healthcare. At CeMM, an international and creative team of scientists and medical doctors pursues free-minded basic life science research in a large and vibrant hospital environment of outstanding medical tradition and practice. At CeMM, an international and creative team of scientists and medical doctors pursues free-minded basic life science research in a large and vibrant hospital environment of outstanding medical tradition and practice. CeMM’s research is based on post-genomic technologies and focuses on societally important diseases, such as immune disorders and infections, cancer, aging and metabolic disorders. CeMM operates in a unique mode of super-cooperation, connecting biology with medicine, experiments with computation, discovery with translation, and science with society and the arts. CeMM discovers and develops technologies to explore human biology with the purpose of defeating disease at its roots. Because Science is our Medicine! CeMM trains a modern blend of biomedical scientists and is located at the campus of the General Hospital and the Medical University of Vienna. CeMM is a proud recipient of the HR  Excellence in Research Award (HRS4R). This award indicates that CeMM takes care of the well-being of its employees, that the recruitment process is open, fair, and transparent, and that CeMM offers professional appraisals and career development procedures. More than 150 people from 49 nationalities are working at CeMM. The institute promotes equal opportunity and harbours a mix of different talents, backgrounds, competences, and interests. www.cemm.at

We offer

• Work within an experienced, interdisciplinary, and international team at one of Austria’s leading research institutes
• Ample opportunities to contribute and gain experience in a key area of biomedical research and precision medicine
• An inspiring workplace with an international setting, strong team spirit, and an excellent work climate
• A wide range of social, cultural, and sports activities organized by the institute
• Excellent employee benefits including full insurance coverage (health, accident, retirement), health care services, subsidized cafeteria
• Monthly gross salary of EUR 2.600,00 paid out 14 times yearly (following the recommendations of FWF)
• Support for relocating to Vienna is provided (relocation reimbursement, visa support, etc.)

Please apply online (https://cemm.onlyfy.jobs/job/4n5oclck) with cover letter, CV , and contact details of 2 referees. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Additional information 

City Vienna 

Position type Full-time employee 

Start of work 01.01.2024

Responsible 

Memo Mokhles