Experienced postdoctoral fellow in lung cancer research : Heidelberg, Germany

The German Cancer Research Center is the largest biomedical research institution in Germany. With more than 2,700 employees, we operate an extensive scientific program in the field of cancer research.

The Division of Cancer Genome Research is seeking a

Experienced postdoctoral fellow in lung cancer research

(Ref-No. 25/2016)

Description:
The DKFZ Unit Cancer Genome Research located in the National Center of Tumor Diseases (NCT) in Heidelberg has a long-lasting expertise in genome and transcriptome analysis of tumors. Since 2011, we have been a partner in the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), which has led to fruitful collaborations with clinicians, basic researchers, and computational biologists in Heidelberg and elsewhere. Our research focus has been to identify mRNA and miRNA for lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy resistance and to analyze their functions in cell culture and preclinical models.

The successful candidate will supervise the lung cancer related projects of the group and perform own research involving two major areas: 
First, translational research will be based on our expertise in liquid biopsies (ctDNA and ctRNA). We will focus on using digital PCR and NGS-based technologies to monitor tumor load and to detect lung cancer earlier in pre-defined risk groups. In cooperation with our partners from clinics and epidemiology, we will determine miRNA abundance and DNA mutations in blood plasma. This expertise will be leveraged to perform companion screening for predictive biomarkers in novel IITs.
Second, we are using in vitro cell culture systems to identify molecular mechanisms of therapy resistance. In particular, we are interested in identifying miRNA and epigenetic factors conferring resistance of cells with defined genetic backgrounds as a means to provide a mechanistic understanding of molecular processes in precision oncology approaches. To this end, we are aiming at extending co-culture and establishing 3D models of lung cancer cells with fibroblasts or immune cells, and analyze their molecular and cellular properties following drug treatment.

The position requires highly developed communication skills and a strong aptitude for translational research. Experience in supervising scientific personnel is a plus.

We offer:

• Excellent working environment
• Access to state-of-the-art equipment
• Well-established collaborations
• Multiple opportunities for advanced training
• Flexible working hours

Your profile:

• PhD or equivalent in biology, biochemistry, cell biology, or related fields
• Expertise in (epi)genomics, transcriptomics, cell culture, and computational biology
• Strong motivation to perform translational research
• Excellent command of oral and written English, including grant writing

The position is initially limited for 2 years.