We are currently looking for a PhD-student! Have a look at the following link (you can apply by following this link):
Working environment
A PhD position for 4 years is available in the research group of dr. Rudolf Fehrmann, which is focused on integrative omics approaches to identify driver genomic alterations in cancer. Specifically, alterations in genes and biological pathways that are relevant for the pathophysiological behavior and treatment response of tumors are studied with the aim to rapidly translate these findings to clinical practice. The research group is embedded in the Department of Medical Oncology of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) in the Netherlands, where oncological patient care is coordinated with preclinical and fundamental research on the biology and treatment of cancer. The Department of Medical Oncology participates in the Groningen Cancer Research Center (GCRC), as part of the Graduate School of Medical Sciences of the University of Groningen. In this graduate school, molecular biologists, pharmacists and clinicians work closely together creating an optimal and excellent environment where the biological behavior of cancer cells, molecular imaging of tumors and novel approaches of cancer targeting are studied. The project will be executed in close collaboration with the Genomics Coordination Center (GCC), a 25fte bioinformatics and biomedical informatics facility of the University Medical Center Groningen hosted at the Genetics Department.
Background
Cancer is a genomically-driven disease that arises from genetic and environmental factors leading to genomic instability (e.g. through defects in DNA repair), which is a central process in carcinogenesis. Genomic instability refers to the progressive accumulation of genomic alterations, such as amplifications and deletions (i.e. somatic copy number alterations; SCNAs) and mutations. As a result of this genomic instability, individual cancer genomes usually contain numerous genomic alterations. These can translate into downstream effects such as altering protein structures (changing gene function) or changing gene expression levels (activity of a gene or pathway. Further down the line, these genomic alterations and their downstream effects can lead to phenotypic effects, including progressive acquisition of the hallmarks of cancer. In this project, which is funded by a personal grant of the Alpe d’HuZes/Dutch Cancer Society and a recently awarded VENI grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), we aim to improve biologically personalized therapeutics by revealing somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) and their effect on gene expression levels that drive cancer behavior and treatment response.
What do we need
The ideal candidate should have a strong background in large-scale bioinformatics and should have strong experience in mathematic/statistic and programming (preferably C++). Experience with data analysis of one of the omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics) fields would be a significant advantage. The candidate should be able to work in an interdisciplinary and multinational research team and have good communication skills.
What to we offer
The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. You may be required to build up sufficient protection against Hepatitis B before you can be appointed. Vaccination is provided by the UMCG if necessary.
A salary of € 2.222,- gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 2.846,- gross per month in the last fourth year (scale PhD) based on a full-time appointment (1.0 fte). In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and a development budget. Terms of employment that comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centers (CAO-UMC).
The position is limited to a period of 4 years. The first year constitutes a probationary period, with an evaluation of the candidate’s performance after the first year. The objective of this evaluation is to establish whether the candidate will be able to finish a PhD thesis in the remaining three years. If the performance evaluation is positive, the candidate’s contract will be extended by another 3 years, for a total of 4 years.
More information
For more information about the PhD position you may contact:
Dr. Rudolf Fehrmann, e-mail: r.s.n.fehrmann@umcg.nl (please do not use for applications)
You can apply until 21 March 2016 (follow the link at the top of this post!)
