Advancing career pathways in research infrastructure with ARISE2

VIB is excited to announce its participation in ARISE2, the European career accelerator designed to foster the growth and expertise of scientists working within research infrastructures. This MSCA-funded postdoctoral fellowship program, launched by EMBL, aims to cultivate the next generation of technophile infrastructure scientists through an intensive three-year fellowship. ARISE2 not only provides specialized training in advanced technology development but also supports interdisciplinary collaboration, professional skills building, and tailored career support.

“VIB is proud to partner with EMBL in the ARISE2 program,” says Geert Van Minnebruggen, Director of VIB Technologies. “With co-financing and co-supervising roles for three fellows, VIB is committed to training skilled scientists to drive future advancements in life science research infrastructures. This collaboration is key to ensuring that the next generation of experts is well-prepared to support and innovate in scientific services, ultimately fueling fundamental research.”

ARISE2: a career pathway for technology specialists

ARISE2 targets STEM professionals with a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics background, encouraging them to apply their expertise in research infrastructure management. This opportunity invites skilled scientists to strengthen life science research by exchanging best practices and collaborating on advanced technology development. VIB’s participation through its bioimaging core facilities in Ghent and Leuven exemplifies this, providing a unique chance to work on cutting-edge projects that align with the infrastructure needs of today’s scientific community.

Project opportunities with EMBL and VIB

For those interested in bridging the gap between innovative methodologies and their applications, two specific projects led by VIB and EMBL supervisors offer exciting challenges in bioimaging and data analysis:

Expanding imaging capabilities with Erin Tranfield and Gautham Dey

At EMBL Heidelberg, Gautham Dey, in collaboration with Erin Tranfield, Head of the VIB Bioimaging Core Ghent, seeks to advance cross-modality imaging by integrating Ultrastructure Expansion Microscopy (U-ExM) with volume EM and spatial omics.

Tranfield notes, “The project appeals to me not only for its provocative scientific question but also the opportunity it gives for a behind-the-scenes understanding of how core facilities operate. I wish I could have had a program like this when I started.” 

Data integration and analysis with Sebastian Munck and Christian Tischer

Another notable collaboration involves Christian Tischer of EMBL Heidelberg and Sebastian Munck, the Innovation and Technology Development Specialist at the VIB Bioimaging Core Leuven. They are developing software to register volume EM data, enhancing data analysis capabilities.

Munck explains, “Developing technology that benefits a wide range of scientists is a top priority in life sciences. Through ARISE2, we are focused on creating modular, reusable tools that simplify the analysis of 3D imaging volumes from multiple resources. This program opens up exciting opportunities for institutional collaboration, technology advancement, and service innovation in research infrastructures.”

Join us in shaping the future of research infrastructure

Are you passionate about leveraging your technical skills in an environment that bridges science and technology? Do you have ideas for potential projects that could enrich the VIB-EMBL collaboration? Start the conversation by reaching out to the project supervisors listed here and exploring the opportunity to be a part of ARISE2. For more details on the program and application process (deadline: November 25, 2024), visit the official ARISE2 site.

VIB is eager to contribute to this groundbreaking program and invites all interested researchers to explore the possibilities within ARISE2, a unique platform for professional growth and technological innovation in life sciences.