Jobbeschreibung
„Research for a life without cancer“ is our mission at the German Cancer Research Center. We investigate how cancer develops, identify cancer risk factors and look for new cancer prevention strategies. We develop new methods with which tumors can be diagnosed more precisely and cancer patients can be treated more successfully. Every contribution counts – whether in research, administration or infrastructure. This is what makes our daily work so meaningful and exciting.
Together with university partners at seven renowned partner sites, we have established the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK).
At the Institute of Translational Cancer Research and Experimental Cancer Therapy at the DKTK partner site Munich we are offering a PhD Student Position in Pancreatic Cancer Biology.
Reference number: 2024-0204
We are deploying genetic models to study molecular, immunological and translational aspects of pancreatic cancer. We utilize these systems to uncover the immune signals that mediate immunosuppression and drive tumor progression in vivo (e.g., Nat Commun. 2023 14:2642 and 14:1201; Nature Cancer 2022 3:318-336, Cancer Discovery 2021 11:3158-3177, Nature 2018 554:62-68; Nat. Rev. Cancer 2017 17:239-253; Nat. Commun. 2016, 7:10770; Nat Med. 2014, 20:1340-7). During the past decade, our lab has generated a comprehensive resource of primary pancreatic tumors and cell cultures. Multiple NGS methods and biological readouts have been conducted to decipher the molecular makeup and phenotypes of these tumors. The advertised projects focus on (1) unraveling the immune landscape of pancreatic cancer and its impact on treatment response and resistance, and (2) identifying the key targetable context-dependent drives of tumor microenvironment subtypes and the modes of immunosuppression they utilize to escape immune attack. In close collaboration with the Theis lab at Helmholtz Center Munich, we are employing advanced computational approaches to investigate the communication of cancer cells with their environment and the immune system. We are an enthusiastic international team and offer intensive training and mentoring.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:
- Gain important insights into clinically relevant aspects of tumor-host and immune interactions
- Perform state-of-the-art in vivo experiments and large-scale drug and genetic screens
- Learn and apply a wide spectrum of genetic, molecular and cell biology, biochemical as well as immunological and bioinformatics techniques to study translational aspects of cancer (e.g. Cre/loxP and Flp/FRT based dual-cell and triple recombinase systems, organoid culture, orthotopic transplantations of cells/organoids, CRISPR/Cas9, molecular in vivo imaging, quantitative proteomics/phosphoproteomics, multiple transcriptomics and genomics approaches, single-cell sequencing, histocytometry)
- Employ bioinformatics platforms and computational pipelines for the analysis of bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, DNA sequencing datasets and proteomics
- Integrate these datasets with molecular (WES, WGBS, lcWGS, ChIPseq, ATACseq), phenotypic (e.g. histology), drug screening and clinical information
- Interact within a diverse and multidisciplinary environment of biologists, clinicians, computational scientists and mathematicians within the TranslaTUM
We are looking for an exceptional self-motivated bright individual with a diploma or master's degree in biochemistry, biology, molecular / translational medicine or related subjects. Previous exposure to and experience with basic biochemical and molecular biology techniques, proteomics or bioinformatics, as well as interests in molecular aspects of cancer research is essential. Due to the interdisciplinary framework and close collaboration between wet-lab and computational scientists, good communicative skills as well as fluency in English are essential.
Interested candidates should submit one PDF file with a CV, cover letter, certificates, and letters of recommendation via our online application portal.
- Excellent framework conditions: state-of-the-art equipment and opportunities for international networking at the highest level
- Access to international research networks
- Doctoral salary with the usual social benefits
- 30 days of vacation per year
- Flexible working hours
- Possibility of part-time work
- Family-friendly working environment
- Sustainable travel to work: subsidized Germany job ticket
- Unleash your full potential: targeted training and mentoring through the DKFZ International PhD Program and DKFZ Career Service
- Our Corporate Health Management Program offers a holistic approach to your well-being