→ Apply before 28/03/2025 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)
→ Department: GE32 - Diagnostische Wetenschappen
→ Occupancy rate:100%
→ Number of positions: 1
→ Type of employment: Contract of limited duration
→ Term of assignment: 8 maanden
→ Wage scale: PD1 to PD4 (doctoral degree)
→ Required diploma:PhD
ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY
Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programs grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
ABOUT THE HOST LABS
The Unit for Translational Research in Oncology (UTRIO, headed by Prof. Steven Goossens) and the Lab of normal and malignant hematopoiesis (guided by Dr. Tim Pieters), conduct basic and translational research to find novel targeted therapies for cancer, that are more effective and have fewer toxic side-effects. The host labs mainly focus on hematological malignancies, such as lymphomas and leukemias. Our research focuses on the identifying genetic or epigenetic aberrations in blood cancer patients and to evaluate the functions of identified putative oncogenes and tumor suppressors in lymphoma/leukemia progression.
The labs have ample expertise in genetic engineering, development of high throughput drug screening assays, generation of in vitro and in vivo cancer models to evaluate novel therapeutic strategies to combat aggressive subtypes of cancer. Our laboratory is fully equipped for molecular, cellular in vitro and in vivo work and we have access to all state of the art departmental and institutional core facilities including high end imaging, flow cytometry, proteomics, RNA Seq and high throughput genetic analysis, single cell analysis platforms, SPF animal facility and in vivo imaging.
YOUR TASKS
You are involved in research at the interface of normal lymphoid differentiation and leukemic transformation. You investigate the role of a transcription factor complex in normal T-cell development and upon oncogenic transformation towards T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) by using CRISPR-CAS9 genetically manipulated cell lines, conditional loss-of-function mouse models and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models.
- You will use multi-omics approaches, such as RNAseq, ATACseq and CUT&RUN, to unravel the molecular mechanisms of the observed developmental phenotypes and T-ALL biology.
- You perform in vitro and in vivo drugging experiments on T-ALLs cell lines and patient derived xenograft models to translate results towards clinical applications
Taking the lead in writing, finalizing, submitting, and revising publications of which you are a co-author.
Help with supervision and guidance of Master and PhD students within the research team.
Generally, contribute to a positive, enjoyable, and productive working environment.
- You will be embedded at Ghent University with multiple other cancer research teams within the Cancer Research Institute Ghent (crig.ugent.be) as well as international collaborating teams as part of the ongoing multidisciplinary investigations.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- At the start of this contract, you hold a thesis-based doctorate in Life Sciences (obtained max. 6 years ago).
- Excellent written and oral English skills are required, as evidenced by prior peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
- You are a talented and enthusiastic researcher, who is seriously motivated and has a sense for high professional standards.
- You have a proven track record of successful research in cancer (preferentially leukemia) and high ranked publications.
- You have experience with in vitro cell culture of mammalian cells (leukemia/lymphoma) and viral transduction of cell lines and primary cell cultures
- You have experience in animal models of cancer (leukemia/lymphoma)
- You are able to perform flow cytometric analysis and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).
- Holding a Felasa C certificate for working with laboratory animals is a must
- You have the ability to work autonomously while having strong team player skills.
- You are motivated towards applying for future competitive postdoc grants (e.g. FWO (fwo.be))
- You know how to apply the principles of project management.
- Experience or strong interest in T-cell and/or T-ALL biology is a plus
- Experience in bioinformatic analyses of large genomics data sets is preferred
- Experience in project writing and successful achievement of grants is a plus.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- We offer you a contract of definite duration with a maximum term of 8 months.
- Your contract will start on 01/05/2024 at the earliest.
- Be a (co-)first-author on the research paper that we aim to be accepted/submitted by the end of this period.
- Participate in an exciting and rapidly evolving new research area with labs with young, dynamic and enthusiastic research staff with great team spirit
- "state-of-the-art" technology and facilities (sequencing, single cell, murine xenograft modeling, 20-colour flow cytometry
- A defined track for postdoc coaching and career development (see postdoc community at Ghent University https://www.ugent.be/en/ghentuniv/strategic-plan/postdoc- community).
- Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale PD1. Click here for more information about our salary scales.
- All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, a bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits (in Dutch).
INTERESTED?
Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.
Your application must include the following documents:
- In the field ‘CV’: your CV
- In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter in pdf format
- In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
- In the field “other documents”: Upload at least one reference letter. A link to the PhD dissertation and/or published research papers should be provided (e.g. ORCID, google scholar profile).
Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.
As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Steven Goossens ([email protected]) or Tim Pieters ([email protected]) by e-mail. Important: do NOT send your application by e-mail, but apply online.
Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via [email protected] or +32 9 264 34 36
