PhD Candidate Sweet detection of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles
Calling all aspiring researchers! Join our Department of Cell and Chemical Biology as a PhD student and delve into the fascinating world of liquid biopsies, specifically on the use of extracellular vesicles as potential biomarkers in cancer detection, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring! Are you a passionate and driven individual eager to contribute to cutting-edge cancer research? Read on and apply!
About your role
As a PhD candidate, you will be part of a team that aims to detect and monitor cancer through the analysis of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (tdEVs) in the blood of cancer patients. This project focuses on the use of novel tumor-specific proteins and antibodies that target tdEVs for detection and characterization. You will first test such novel probes in EVs derived from cancer cell lines. You will then use the probes to label tdEVs in blood plasma of pancreatic and breast cancer patients. You will use state-of-the are methods, such as single-EV Flow Cytometry, super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy and cryo-Electron Microscopy, to validate and quantify the presence of tdEVs in the blood of patients. You will design and test isolation assays using the novel probes to pull down the tdEVs and perform downstream characterization using mass spectrometry.
About you
- MSc degree in Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience in culturing cells and performing standard molecular biology techniques.
- Critical and creative thinking are part of your skillset.
- You excel at both independent work and collaborative teamwork, with effective communication skills.
- You master the English language well in written and oral form.
- Motivated, driven and responsible.
Our offer
Getting better by breaking new ground; that's our mission. This applies not only to healthcare, but also to our employees. In order to be able to continue to learn and develop, we offer internal and external training. You are also entitled to an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), holiday allowance, sports budget and bicycle scheme. Furthermore, as an employee of LUMC, you are also affiliated with the ABP pension fund. This means that 70% of your pension premium is paid by LUMC, leaving you with a higher net salary. Nice, right?
See all employment conditions of the LUMC.
About your workplace
You will work at the Chemical Signaling group led by Prof. Peter ten Dijke. Our group is world leader in cell signaling with a focus on cancer. This group is part of the Cell and Chemical Biology Department, which has state-of-the-art infrastructure to perform high-quality research. For this project you will work closely with the Amsterdam Vesicle Center at the Amsterdam UMC, as well as with the Department of Immunology and Microbiology of the University of Copenhagen.
What do we represent?
Our health is our greatest asset. Unlike in any other profession, in healthcare, you can fully appreciate the entire spectrum of humanity in all its breadth. LUMC, as an academic medical center, wholeheartedly embraces that diversity! We strive for the highest quality in healthcare, education, and (international) research, and we are well aware that, to be a creative, inspiring workplace, it is essential that everyone feels at home, safe, and recognized. That’s why LUMC was the first academic medical center to partner with Workplace Pride. We have an active network, LUMC Pride, dedicated to making inclusivity and diversity, along with the intersectionality between them, an integral part of our company’s DNA. Regardless of origin, gender, identity, orientation, or belief, you are a part of our organization. Together, we are LUMC.
More information
- You will be given an employment contract for the production of a PhD thesis for the duration of the program with a maximum of four years. The salary amounts to € 2,901 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,677 in the last year with fulltime employment (scale Pro, CLA UMC).
- Applications from employment/recruitment agencies will not be considered.
