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Postdoc Hematology

Working environment
The postdoc student will be working on a recently awarded ERC Starting Grant entitled “Human leukemic stem cells: from identification towards targeting and eradication”

Proposal summary
Human myeloid leukemias are life-threatening disorders. Although with current therapies the bulk of the tumor is readily eradicated, it is particularly the rare population of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) that is relatively quiescent and is very difficult to target. As a consequence, relapse of the disease occurs frequently resulting in poor survival rates. Nevertheless, remarkable differences do exist between subsets of patients. It is important to realize that leukemias are rather heterogeneous disorders that can be caused by a multiplicity of genetic and epigenetic changes. One of the most important challenges in the field today lies in establishing which of the differences between LSCs and normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) provide attractive targets for the identification, targeting and ultimately the selective eradication of LSCs. Given the heterogeneity of the disorder, it will be important to address these aspects in detail in a leukemia subtype-specific manner.
Central to this proposal is the establishment of a human xenograft mouse leukemia “clinic” in which all important human leukemia subtypes will be represented. LSCs from patients as well as from cord blood and bone marrow model systems that we have generated will be equipped with luciferase-GFP tracers in order to allow detection of leukemic development in alive immunodeficient mice. Unique lentiviral integration sites will be used for clonal tracking. Within this mouse clinic, in a leukemia subtype-specific manner, we will be able to: 1) identify (novel) leukemic stem cell markers and evaluate their targetability; 2) evaluate whether stem cell intrinsic versus extrinsic signaling can be used as targets in alternative approaches to eradicate LSCs, and 3) study clonal evolution from de novo to relapsed leukemia.
Our molecular and cell biological studies over the past 5 years, including large scale transcriptome and membrane proteome analyses of primary HSCs and LSCs compared to their progeny, put us now in a unique position to study the involvement and targetability of described as well as novel identified tumor markers and signal transduction pathways. Ultimately, our studies should provide novel rational approaches to treat leukemia patients more successfully.

Job description
The postdoc will be part of a young and enthusiastic research group at the Department of Experimental Hematology, headed by Prof. Dr. J.J. Schuringa.

What do we need
- The candidate must have a PhD in Molecular/Medical Biology or Biochemistry.
- Experience in cell biological techniques (e.g. eukaryotic tissue culture) is required.
- An ‘artikel 9 bevoegdheid’ or a foreign equivalent to perform animal experiments is necessary.
- Experience in molecular biology techniques such as Western Blotting, molecular cloning, retroviral/lentiviral transduction protocols is desirable.
- You are enthusiastic, ambitious and a team player.

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. This may mean that you must build up enough resistance to Hepatitis B before you can be appointed. Vaccination is provided by the UMCG if necessary.

What do we offer
We offer a full-time appointment for four years. Dependent on qualifications and work experience we can offer you a salary to a maximum of € 3.899,- (scale 10) gross per month for a full-time position.
The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

More information
For more information about this vacancy you may contact:
Prof. Dr. J.J. Schuringa, tel. no. +31 (0) 50 361 93 91, e-mail: j.j.schuringa@umcg.nl (please do not use for applications).

Links
Department of Experimental Hematology (http://www.rug.nl/umcg/faculteit/disciplinegroepen/internegeneeskunde/hematologie/index)

Applying for a job
Please use the the digital application form at the bottom of the vacancy on our website: http://www.umcg.nl/EN/corporate/pages/default.aspx – only these will be processed.
You can apply until 28 November 2011.
Immediately after sending the digital application form you will receive an email- confirmation with further information.