Vacancy | PhD student Pathology and Immunology (36h)

Understanding the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic and liver cancer by using
High-dimensional phenotyping, multiplexed imaging and sequencing techniques” (36 hours) Pathology and Immunology

State-of-the-art technology-driven research with a high medical impact!

Working at the University Hospital Aachen (Germany) and Amsterdam UMC – Location VUmc

The research groups of Dr. Lara Heij (Aachen Academic Hospital, Dept. Surgery) and Dr. Juan J. Garcia Vallejo (Amsterdam UMC, Dept Molecular Cell Biology & Immunology, MCBI) join forces with the goal of better understanding the immunopathology of pancreatic and liver cancer, exploring potential therapeutic targets, and identifying biomarkers of the response to treatment using multiple high-dimensional single cell technologies. We will combine our results with clinical data to identify immune signatures and therapeutic targets for potential clinical use. For pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma response to therapeutic agents remains poor and not all patients respond evenly well. By using new high dimensional single cell methodologies we hope to unravel biological processes in the tumor microenvironment and identify immunopathological that will impact clinical care. Our ultimate aim is to rapidly deliver relevant new data for the immunological response of therapeutic agents that will allow us to provide patient stratification for personalized care in cancer patients.

You will be working in close collaboration with a team of young and enthusiastic researchers with expertise in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Pathology, Surgery, and Immunology, and in the vibrant environments of MCBI (https://immunologyamsterdam.org/) and the research group in Aachen (www.laraheijresearch.com).

Your challenge
As a PhD student your main tasks and responsibilities are:

• The identification of cellular biomarkers that identify immune response signatures to
  therapeutic agents in real life scenarios.
• Establishing a systems immunology knowledge level of complex immune-cancer
  interactions.
• Developing multiplexed antibody panels and implementing them on human cancer
  samples.
• The use state-of-the-art high-dimensional cytometry techniques, such as mass and
  spectral cytometry, as well as state-of-the-art multiplexed immunohistochemistry,
  combined with bioinformatics and advanced biostatistics.

Your profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic researcher with:

• • A master degree in Medical Engineering, Bioinformatics, Biomedical Sciences, or Biochemistry.
  • Affinity for Immunology.
  • Interest in high-dimensional and single cell technologies and pushing the boundaries of research through technology-driven applications.
  • Experience with high dimensional data analysis, bioinformatics, and biostatistics.
  • You are flexible, independent, and a team-player;
  • You have excellent communications skills in English, both written and verbal.
  • German or Dutch language skills NOT needed.
  • Working space will be mainly in Aachen, with regularly interactions on-site in Amsterdam.
  • International travel experience and exchange with Oxford Unievrsity and University College London is possible, funding for international fellowship is available.

Benefits
Salary scale TV-LE13 PhD position (Germany), depending on qualifications and experience. Working hours and part-time working options can be discussed. We offer an initial contract for 12 months that can be extended (after evaluation) for another 36 months.

Additional information
Research within the departments of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology and Surgery is performed in a stimulating environment and at an international high competitive level. The focus is on cellular and molecular interactions involved in immune homeostasis, inflammation and anti-cancer responses.

The preferred starting date for this position is November 1st 2022 but this is negotiable. Interviews will be held in the beginning of September 2022.

Completion of a Dutch and or German PhD is possible.

Please provide – in English – a motivation letter and CV, and, if available, a recommendation letter and thesis. Pay attention to provide a fitting motivation for this project and describe your relevant prior experience and projects; try to show proof of your programming, image processing, and/or writing skills.

Interested?
For more information about this position, please contact Dr. J. J. (Juan) Garcia Vallejo by telephone number: +31 (0)20 – 444 8259 or Dr. L.R. (Lara) Heij by telephone number: +31 (0)6-46232881.