NGS Laboratory Specialist (Maternity Cover), Utrecht

At Single Cell Discoveries we\'re looking for a NGS Laboratory Specialist to join our team. Overview

About the job Single Cell Discoveries is looking for an NGS Laboratory Specialist to strengthen our Lab Services team on a temporary maternity cover basis. This role is primarily hands-on laboratory work, supporting a wide range of ongoing NGS service projects, with additional responsibility for coordinating day-to-day aspects of projects running through the lab. You will work extensively at the bench assisting single-cell and bulk sequencing workflows, while helping ensure that samples, timelines, and communication are well aligned across projects.This is a temporary position running from July 2026 until February 2027. Due to the temporary nature of this position, we are unable to sponsor visa applications. About us Single Cell Discoveries is a start-up company that provides single-cell sequencing services to clients around the world in academia and industry. With a team of 30, we work together to offer cutting edge single-cell, bulk and spatial transcriptomics sequencing services and help scientists worldwide get the best out of their research. We have an active R&D department that works on developing new sequencing methods and on bringing single cell technology to the clinic. Responsibilities

Perform extensive hands-on laboratory work across multiple NGS workflows, including single-cell and bulk sequencing pipelines.

Flexibly support different lab pipelines depending on project demand and priorities.

Execute high-throughput, plate-based workflows while maintaining high quality and reproducibility.

Support the day-to-day coordination of service projects, ensuring smooth flow of samples and data through the lab.

Monitor project progress from a lab perspective and flag issues related to timing, sample quality, or workflow capacity.

Ensure accurate sample tracking, documentation, and data management, including LIMS administration.

Collaborate closely with lab colleagues, bioinformatics, and project leads to troubleshoot and optimize workflows.

Contribute to continuous improvement of lab processes and, where relevant, support R&D-driven workflow development.

Qualifications

HLO, Master’s or PhD degree (or equivalent experience) in life sciences or a related field.

Practical experience with NGS workflows, ideally including single-cell sequencing.

Comfortable working in a high-throughput lab environment with multiple parallel projects.

Experience with laboratory automation and liquid-handling systems is a plus.

Highly organized, detail-oriented, and working according to good laboratory practices.

A flexible and pragmatic mindset, able to adapt quickly to changing lab priorities.

Good communication skills and excellent English proficiency (written and verbal).

Able to work independently while being a reliable and supportive team member.

Benefits

A predominantly lab-focused role working with state-of-the-art single-cell and similar NGS technologies.

A collaborative and highly skilled team in an international biotech company.

Exposure to a broad range of library prep workflows and client-driven projects.

A temporary maternity cover contract from July 2026 until February 2027 (no extension guaranteed).

Competitive compensation, aligned with experience.

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