Project manager for contract research trials

REQUIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE

  • PhD degree in Veterinary Medicine, Bioengineering, Biology or related fields
  • Basic management skills (time/processes/resources)
  • Efficiency and effectiveness in performance of tasks
  • Ability to prioritise and solve problems
  • Driven and energetic team player
  • Strong sense of responsibility and attention to detail
  • Ability to develop procedures, draft work proposals and reports
  • Effective communicator
  • Excellent English (spoken and written)
  • Advanced knowledge of Excel and other Microsoft office tools, statistic program

TASKS

Management of contract research trials and related activities:

  • Plan, coordinate and execute contract research trials
    • Solve issues and escalate complex issues to management
    • Liaise with clients and manage client database 
    • Motivate, coordinate and manage day to day activities of the team 
    • Develop and enforce research policies and Standard Operating Procedures
    • Analyse data, draft reports 
    • Manage and optimise the workflows
    • Oversee and assist the employee training

WE OFFER

– An attractive salary package proportional to performance and responsibilities

– Intensive in-house training and coaching

– A possibility of rapid career development

– Being part of an international team of aquaculture experts at a dynamic company

– Participating in exiting aquaculture research projects 

Please send your CV and motivation letter to HR@imaqua.eu before 08/01/2023

AQUACULTURE EUROPE 2022

We just returned from another successful Aquaculture Europe event in Rimini, Italy. Its impressive convention center surprised not only with hundreds of participants and extra wide allays, but was a great space for sharing new big ideas and having in depth discussions on challenges in nowadays aquaculture.

Natasja Cox, our PhD student has presented very promising research results in her oral presentation “Development of standardised In Vivo WSSV individual and group challenge models for experimental infection studies in Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp.”

Meetings with partners, current and potential clients and extensive scientific discussions have been carried on even after hours with a glass of authentic Belgian beer brought all the way from Flanders (big thanks to our friends @Trome).

IMAQUA team is returning with a boost of enthusiasm and enriched with new knowledge. We are bringing home some inspirations, some ideas to be implemented and some to be challenged.

Tom Baelemans, Natasja Cox, Joao Lima, Elija Adomelyte, Elena Alves, Katerina Rehakova and Evelien de Swaef

Ir. Mathieu Wille is joining IMAQUA as new Project and Facility Manager 

We are delighted to share the news, that on 01/09/2022 Ir. Mathieu Wille joined us in a role of Project and Facility Manager. 

Coming from the Laboratory of Aquaculture and Artemia Reference Center (Ghent), Bioscience-engineer Mathieu Wille has gathered over 25 years of experience in aquaculture research, specializing in different aspects of broodstock and larval nutrition of fish and shellfish. 

He worked as senior scientist-project manager in many national and international projects, trained and supervised students at MSc and PhD level and taught courses on crustacean farming. Mathieu is co-author of close to 70 publications in scientific journals and books. 

In recent years he was strongly involved in Ghent University’s business development center BLUEGent, performing research services for the industry. 

At IMAQUA he will be managing research and infrastructure development projects and will ensure smooth functioning of the testing facilities.

Ir. Mathieu Wille

Senior laboratory technician – molecular biology

Job description

OUR COMPANY

IMAQUA is Contract Research Organisation that provides contract research services to the shrimp aquaculture industry. We provide high quality testing services for application on the development, validation and valorisation of shrimp health products. We consult on conceptual issues and various aspects of shrimp health and immunity.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The senior laboratory technician at our microbiology laboratory will have the responsibility for supporting laboratory management, client trials and internal R&D activities essential to the innovation portfolio and smooth functioning of IMAQUA.

The ideal candidate should have a strong interest in animal sciences, particularly aquaculture and previous laboratory experience. IMAQUA laboratory technician should be responsible with a high level of integrity, able to follow protocols and instructions and a team player that shares the team’s passion for driving innovation with the highest quality standards. Strong communication skills and ability to organise work are required.

You will work alongside our scientific staff on challenging research projects in shrimp aquaculture. We offer an attractive salary package proportional to performance and responsibilities.

REQUIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE

· 8-10 years of laboratory work experience

· Studies in biotechnology or similar

· Proficient with following techniques: qPCR, Microbiology, Histology, Cell culture, ELISA

· Hands on experience working with laboratory animals

· Must be able to handle multiple assignments successfully

· Must be precise and accurate, well organised with excellent time management skills

· Must be able to perform in a demanding, fast-paced environment

· Good mathematical (basic statistical skills highly desirable), problem-solving and analytical skills

· Well-developed interpersonal skills

· Possess strong initiative, professional, team player attitude

· Ability to follow strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) and to develop new ones

· Discrete and able to handle confidential data

· Excellent English language skills, spoken and written

· Ready to work on periodical weekend shift

TASKS

Planning, coordination and execution of in vitro microbiological/molecular tests and in vivo infection trials:

· Bacterial culture

· Determination of MIC of experimental antibiotics, probiotics and feed additives

· Bacteriostatic activity with agar diffusion assay of experimental products

· Fixation and staining of thin sections of shrimp tissues

· Microbiology test of shrimp gut digestive and hepatopancreas

· Analysis immune parameter of shrimp haemolymph and tissues

· Shrimp haemocyte collection, total count and differential count

· Probiotics and pathogen co-culture assay

· Shrimp gene expression analysis

· Planning and preparation of trial documentation

· Setting up and execution of controlled infection experiments on shrimp

· Drafting of internal reports

Organisation and quality control:

· Responsible for routine laboratory compliance and maintenance

· Managing laboratory materials stocks and inventory

· Ensures strict adherence to biosafety rules and procedures

· Manages laboratory records and files

Handling and execution:

· Correct blood withdrawal from shrimp & testing of immune parameters

· Examination of animals for behavioural changes or clinical symptoms

· Ensures execution of GLPs in the lab and follow safety rules and procedures

· Development of daily planning of laboratory procedures and coordinating their execution

If you are interested, please send your CV and motivation letter to HR@imaqua.eu

13th Annual Workshop of the National Reference Laboratories for Crustacean Diseases

On the 1st of June 2022, IMAQUA was invited to speak at the 13th Annual Workshop of the National Reference Laboratories for Crustacean Diseases organized by the National Institute of Aquatic Resources at the Technical University of Denmark.

The purpose of this annual workshop is to provide a forum for knowledge exchange regarding the disease situation in the various EU Member States and to present and discuss scientific projects and new developments in crustacean disease research.

IMAQUA’s PhD candidate Natasja Cox presented our recent advances on the development of experimental infection models for WSSV.

Evelien De Swaef, Senior Project Manager at IMAQUA, presented our progress on the optimization of qPCR procedures for detection of shrimp viruses.

Natasja Cox, PhD candidate, IMAQUA
Evelien de Swaef, Senior Project Manager, IMAQUA

Project and facility manager

JOB DESCRIPTION

IMAQUA is looking for a highly motivated and driven candidate to organise and manage research facility and contract research activities at our premises in Belgium.

TASKS

Management of research facilities in order to ensure its smooth functioning 

· Installations/resources/technical personnel

· Facility engineering improvements (propose and implement innovative and effective engineering solutions)

Management of research activities:

· Plan, coordinate and execute research activities/trials, solve issues

· Liaise with clients and manage client database 

· Motivate, coordinate and manage day to day activities of the team 

· Develop and enforce research policies and Standard Operating Procedures

· Draft scientific technical reports

· Manage and optimise the workflow

· Oversee and assist the employee training

REQUIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE

· Degree in Bio-engineering, Zoo-engineering, Animal life support engineering, Aquaculture engineering or related fields (candidates with PhD degree will be prioritized)

· 5 years of experience in managing projects/processes/people (preferable in aquaculture field)

· In depth knowledge of functioning of aquaculture/water systems and equipment

· Knowledge of aquatic animal physiology (preferably shrimp), husbandry practices, biosafety principles and nutrition 

· Understanding of basic laboratory procedures (is a plus)

· Efficiency and effectiveness in performance of the tasks

· Ability to prioritise and solve problems

· Ability to motivate and efficiently manage team 

· Strong sense of responsibility and meticulous attention to detail

· Ability to develop procedures, draft scientific technical reports

· Effective communicator

· Excellent English (spoken and written)

· Advanced knowledge of Excel and other Microsoft office tools, statistical IT tools

WE OFFER

– An attractive salary package proportional to experience, performance and responsibilities

– Being part of an international team of aquaculture experts at a dynamic forward thinking company

– Participating in exiting aquaculture research projects 

If you think you are a good match for our requirements, then please send us your CV and short motivation letter to HR@imaqua.eu

Closing date for applications 30/04/2022

Aquaculture engineer technician

JOB DESCRIPTION

Currently we are looking for an Aquaculture engineer technician to join our young and dynamic international team working on challenging research projects in shrimp aquaculture. You will be responsible for smooth functioning of our research facility systems and equipment as well as creation and implementation of customised engineering solutions and hardware.

TASKS

Your tasks among others will include:

  • Design, construction and optimisation of experimental aquaculture systems or constructions for breeding, treatment and raising of animals
  • Installation and maintenance of pumps, filters and similar hardware needed for smooth functioning of aquaculture systems
  • Regular maintenance and fixing of various systems of the aquaculture facilities – piping/plumbing/electricity/construction and similar
  • Assessment and identification of system and equipment failures, finding smart, timely and efficient solutions, fixing the problems
  • Organisation, planning and implementation of small scale projects and work to achieve desired deadlines
  • Rotating technical after hours duty (in case of any systems failure, they have to be checked by technician on duty)

REQUIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE

  • Bachelor degree in engineering related study fields
  • Experience in working with water systems, swimming pools and similar is desired
  • Experience in aquaculture is a plus
  • Flexible, proactive, handy
  • Solution oriented, independent and well organised
  • Eye for detail, precision
  • Willing to do technical ‘on call’ duty
  • Good English

Application deadline 15/04/2022

Animal research technician

JOB DESCRIPTION

Currently we are looking for an animal research technician to join our young and dynamic international team working on challenging research projects in shrimp aquaculture. Working alongside other scientific staff you will support our research activities through daily shrimp care, monitoring, recording and reporting on various shrimp health parameters.

TASKS

Your tasks among others will include:

  • Feeding the shrimp and monitoring of various shrimp health parameters
  • Preparation of shrimp feed
  • Reporting through collection and entry of data into the electronic database
  • Daily maintenance and support of shrimp breeding facilities
  • Carrying out shrimp breeding procedures
  • Carrying out various experimental trial procedures, including preparation and clearing up of experimental facilities
  • Contributing to optimisation of existing standard operating procedures and work instructions.

REQUIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE

  • Bachelor degree in biology related study fields
  • Experience in aquaculture is a plus
  • Flexible, proactive and motivated
  • Solution oriented
  • Eye for detail, precision
  • Resilience and strong sence of responsibility
  • Willing to work on weekend rotation (1-2 weekends per month)
  • Good spoken English

If you think you are a good match for our requirements, then please send us your CV to HR@imaqua.eu

Closing date for applications 27/03/2022