As a joint venture of the University of Basel and the University Hospitals Basel, the Department of Biomedicine (DBM) brings together basic and clinical scientists to advance the understanding of health and disease.
We are home to more than 67 research groups and over 800 employees across six locations in the heart of Basel. Our collaborative and international environment fosters innovation, excellence, and impactful research.
The Skin Biology led by Prof. A. Navarini & Dr. Dr. E. Roider , are looking for a Research Technician.
Join our community and help shape the future of biomedicine.

Your position

The Translational Skin Laboratory led by Dr. Elisabeth Roider investigates human skin biology with a strong focus on pigmentation, mitochondrial redox regulation, skin cancer, and translational innovation. The position is part of the Innosuisse-funded project “Mitochondrial Modulation for Precision Skin Pigmentation Control”. The project aims to develop first-in-class, bidirectional topical formulations for skin darkening and lightening by targeting the mitochondrial enzyme NNT, using human-relevant in vitro and ex vivo skin models. This position is ideal for a technically strong and highly organized laboratory professional who wants to take ownership of advanced human skin model workflows and contribute to a translational project with clear innovation potential.

We are seeking a highly skilled Research Technician to support experimental work on a translational skin biology project at the interface of academic research and biotech innovation. The successful candidate will take technical ownership of selected workflows, contribute to protocol optimization, maintain high-quality documentation, and ensure reproducibility across cell-based and ex vivo human skin experiments.
Your main responsibilities will include the following areas:
Core experimental responsibilities

• Conducting experiments independently in a BSL-2 clean laboratory setting.
• Performing 2D co-cultures of primary human melanocytes and keratinocytes to quantify melanin synthesis and melanin transfer.
• Working extensively with ex vivo human skin explants, including topical formulation dosing, tissue handling, and monitoring of pigmentation-related phenotypes.
• Measuring skin pigmentation changes using reflective colorimetry, including Chroma Meter-based readouts.

Specialized analytical workflows

• Executing histological and imaging workflows, including Fontana-Masson staining, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence/confocal microscopy.
• Supporting biochemical and molecular assays, including tyrosinase activity assays, melanin quantification, eumelanin/pheomelanin analysis, RT-qPCR, and ELISA.
• Assisting with data analysis and presentation using Excel, GraphPad Prism, and related tools.

Laboratory ownership and quality

• Maintaining high-quality experimental documentation, sample tracking, and data organization.
• Supporting day-to-day laboratory organization, reagent ordering, quality control, and compliance with internal safety standards.
• Contributing to protocol refinement, troubleshooting, and reproducible execution of complex experimental workflows.

Your profile

We are looking for a candidate who combines strong technical skills with scientific curiosity, reliability, and a proactive working style. We are particularly interested in candidates who take pride in technical excellence, reproducibility, careful documentation, and the reliable execution of complex biological experiments.
Essential qualifications

• Completed education as a laboratory technician, BSc, MSc, or equivalent qualification in life sciences, biology, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, or a related discipline.
• Hands-on experience in mammalian tissue culture, ideally including primary cells or complex cell culture systems.
• Practical experience in histology, immunostaining, microscopy, and molecular biology workflows, including RT-qPCR and ELISA.
• High precision, excellent documentation habits, and the ability to follow complex experimental protocols.
• A high degree of autonomy, flexibility, and confidence in conducting independent research experiments.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with a dynamic, dedicated, and team-oriented attitude.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Strong advantages

• Experience with human skin models, pigmentation biology, ex vivo tissue culture, image analysis, or dermatology-related assays.
• Experience with primary human cells, organotypic cultures, explant systems, or tissue-based assays.
• Experience with structured data reporting, image quantification, colorimetry, GraphPad Prism, or similar analysis tools.
• Previous work in translational, clinical, biotech-oriented, or industry-facing research environments.

We offer you

This is a technically demanding, high-responsibility role for a skilled laboratory professional who wants to work with advanced human skin models and contribute directly to a translational innovation project in dermatology and pigmentation biology. We offer a scientifically exciting position in a translational project with clear relevance to human skin biology, pigmentation control, and dermatological innovation. You will work in a collaborative academic-clinical environment at the Department of Biomedicine, closely connected to the University Hospital Basel and embedded in a project that combines mechanistic science, human tissue models, formulation testing, and clinically relevant readouts.
The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience with advanced human skin models, pigmentation assays, microscopy, histology, molecular biology, formulation testing, and structured translational project workflows. This is an excellent opportunity for a technically skilled and motivated person who wants to contribute to a high-impact project bridging academic discovery and biotech startup-oriented development. The role offers substantial hands-on responsibility and the opportunity to contribute to high-quality data generation, scientific presentations, and a human-relevant experimental platform with strong translational value.

Application

Please send your application, including:
CV and a brief Technical Experience & Competency Portfolio, maximum 2 pages, summarizing your hands-on laboratory expertise, level of independence with relevant methods, previous research projects, data documentation and analysis experience, and one example of technical troubleshooting or protocol optimization.

Apply