PhD Student to study CIN in Cancer

Job description

We recently found that CIN leads to an inflammatory response in cancer cells and that these cells rely on this response for survival (Hong et al, Nature. 2022 Jul;607(7918):366-373). We also found that chronic CIN promotes immune evasion (Schubert et al, bioRxiv 2021.12.03.471107), suggesting that reactivation of this immune response could be an effective therapy to treat genomic instable cancer. In this project, you will help delineate the molecular mechanisms underlying the CIN-induced inflammatory response, and how this response interacts with the immune system in (models for) breast cancer.

You will make use of cell and mouse models as well as primary patient samples, (single cell) multi-omics approaches, advanced live imaging approaches and functional genomics (in vivo) screens. You will work in an international team that currently consists of 8 PhD students, 4 postdocs and 5 technicians.

Working environment

The European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging (ERIBA) is a research institute at the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG), in Groningen, the Netherlands. The mission of ERIBA is to better understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie age-related decline and age-related diseases. We aim to develop novel strategies to prevent or combat age-related diseases and to provide evidence-based recommendations for healthy ageing. Our research teams work with different model systems and (beyond-) state-of-the-art technology platforms and share their knowledge and expertise to accelerate discoveries.

ERIBA is part of the central UMCG campus in the vibrant university city Groningen, in the north of the Netherlands and offers a highly international environment with more than half of the employees being non-Dutch. The lab of Floris Foijer at ERIBA studies chromosomal instability (CIN) in cancer and ageing. As CIN is a feature that discriminates cancer cells from non-cancer cells, it provides an attractive target for therapy. We develop technology to quantify CIN, develop models to understand how CIN promotes cancer, and exploit these models and techniques to design new intervention strategies to selectively treat CIN+ cancers. We have strong local and (inter)national collaborations with both basic science and clinical groups, expediting an efficient bed, bench to bed cycle of our research findings. We are currently looking for a PhD student to study how CIN leads to inflammation, immune recognition, and eventually immune evasion of chromosomal unstable cells.

What do we need

We are seeking an ambitious PhD candidate with a strong affinity for genomic integrity, tumor immunology and biological problem solving. High commitment, high motivation, fluency in spoken and written English and a strong team spirit are required. Having experience with primary (cancer) cell cultures, bioinformatics, CRISPR genome engineering, mouse models and/or (single cell) multi-omics approaches is a pre.

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. The UMCG can provide you with the vaccination, should it be required for your position.
In case of specific professions a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ is required.

What do we offer

The UMCG offers a salary of € 3.017 gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 3.824 gross per month (PRO scale) in the fourth year. In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC). It concerns a full-time appointment (36 hours a week) for a period of four years to be concluded with a PhD examination. After one year, the performance of the candidate will be evaluated to decide whether there is sufficient progress to expect a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the last three years of the project.

For questions about the position

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