Postdoc myelin imaging

What you will be doing
We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with strong technical expertise to study the oligodendrocyte myelin sheaths in brain tissue in health and disease. Many brain disorders, including rare genetic white matter disorders (leukodystrophies), but also more common diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, are characterized by white matter pathology including myelin swelling (vacuolization), damage, loss or remodeling. Recently, we found that myelin swelling is not always the start of myelin loss, but that it can be followed by repair (Arafa et al. Science 391, eadr4661, 2026). Neuronal activity contributes to myelin swelling, but the mechanisms and dynamics underlying myelin swelling and repair are poorly understood.

Leveraging advanced microscopy approaches you will investigate myelin in living tissue (Higgins, Al-Naqib et al. 10.64898/2026.05.15.725074) to determine the biophysical and molecular mechanisms associated with myelin remodeling. This project is a collaboration with Dr. Rogier Min of the Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center (ALC), Amsterdam UMC. Well-validated mouse models for various leukodystrophies offer opportunities to study myelin swelling and remodeling in disease contexts, taking an important step towards a better understanding of this understudied, but common phenomenon and building bridges to the clinic.

Contentspecialist - HuC

Wat ga je doen?

Als contentspecialist ben je verantwoordelijk voor het beheer van de websites van het Meertens Instituut en Huygens Instituut. Hiervoor overleg je met de communicatieadviseurs, maar je doet ook je eigen monitoring en haalt informatie op uit de organisatie. Daarnaast werk je mee aan content van het intranet en aan nieuwsbrieven.

Jouw werkzaamheden bestaan onder meer uit:

• Beheren en actualiseren van de instituutswebsites, waaronder medewerkersprofielen, projectbeschrijvingen en andere vaste content.
• (Her)schrijven en waar nodig vertalen van webteksten en teksten voor het intranet.
• Deelnemen aan redactieoverleggen.
• Meewerken aan nieuwsbrieven.
• Voorbereiden van content ten behoeve van nieuwe website van het Meertens Instituut.

Je werkt nauw samen met de communicatieadviseurs van de instituten en adviseur interne communicatie, de student-assistent, de redacteur social media en de webmaster.

Data Harmonisation Analyst

NIOO has recently set the ambition to harmonise data collection and strengthen data management across the institute. This will support NIOO's Open Science ambitions as the national hub for ecology and forms part of the broader NIOO Open Data for Ecology (NODE) project.

Within NIOO, there is a vast number of small, fragmented datasets collected by numerous individual researchers in small projects. These data are often low-volume and heterogeneous in format and methodology, which is typical in the ecology and evolution domain (the so-called long tail of science).

The interoperability and interpretation of these data could be improved by harmonising the data formats used and ensuring that future data collection can be set up to adhere to community accepted data standards.

To achieve this, we first need to understand which data practices are currently in use, how they relate to one another, and which overarching standards should be applied across the institute.

What you will be doing
As Data Harmonisation Analyst you will be tasked with:

• mapping the fragmented data landscape at NIOO
• clustering the different datasets in terms of design, structure and use
• identifying standards and open science practices relevant for each cluster

As Data Harmonisation Analyst you will contribute to:

• setting up harmonisation protocols for existing datasets
• the organisation of practical workshops and tutorials that can help individual researchers at NIOO with data management

Database- and Application Engineer - NODE

What will you be doing?
You will help design, build, and maintain sustainable long-term data infrastructure by developing relational databases for ecological research within the NODE (NIOO Open Data for Ecology) programme. Key responsibilities include database architecture, data harmonization, metadata design, and supporting Open Science initiatives through robust, scalable data systems. Apart from helping design new databases you will work as an application and database administrator in the ‘Vogeltrekstation’ team that will be rebuilt within the NODE project. Managing the web application ‘GRIEL’, a C# based application, backed by a Microsoft SQL database towards the future is part of this project timeline. Through this application, users manage and export bird ringing and recovery data. You will maintain and update the application and its database, while contributing to a long-term migration of the system to a modern open-source platform in collaboration with multiple partners and developers.

Junior Researcher - Generations and Gender Programme - NIDI-KNAW - The Hague

The Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) invites applications for a Junior Researcher position within the Generations and Gender Programme (GGP). This new position will assist us with the daily operations of the GGP headquarters, contribute to managing newly collected GGS data, and promote the use and understanding of cross-national survey data to researchers, policy-makers and the public, including access, use, and findings of GGP data.

Introduction / project description:
The GGP is a cross-national research infrastructure that provides high-quality, open-access data on population and family dynamics. Its core component is the Generations and Gender Survey (GGS), a longitudinal study on life courses and family structures across countries.

The GGP Central Coordination Team is located at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) in The Hague and is responsible for the coordination, data processing, and scientific support of the programme.

What you will be doing:
This position of GGP junior researcher is an entry-level position for those starting their (academic) career. The main tasks will be to assist with the daily operations of the GGP headquarters, work with the newly collected GGS data, and help promote the data.

You will:

• assist with fieldwork preparations (e.g., coding and testing the survey questionnaire, helping monitor the fieldwork);
• process the newly collected survey data in Stata and R, and implement data quality checks;
• develop syntax, code, and documentation for facilitating and promoting the use of GGS data;
• contribute to the dissemination and promotion of GGP activities, including through the website, newsletters and social media;
• help organise meetings, workshops, and other project activities;
• contribute to day-to-day communication and operational activities of the GGP Central Hub.

What do we offer?
We offer an entry-level position tailored for those wanting to gain meaningful experience in working in a research environment. The role offers exposure to a wide range of activities, from data documentation and quality assurance to user-facing pilots and dissemination. Our team is a dynamic and intellectually stimulating work environment. This role provides the opportunity to develop your professional profile, gain work experience, and build a professional network.
The initial appointment will be for one year. Any extension will be contingent on performance, availability of funds, and the human resource needs of the infrastructure. Dutch law stipulates a maximum of 4 years in total for a temporary research-based contract.