The department of Experimental Cardiology of the Academic Medical Center (AMC) in Amsterdam is seeking two enthusiastic and ambitious PhD candidates to join our research project entitled “Novel RNA Therapies aimed at heritable forms of treatment-resistant Heart Failure”.

Mutations in the gene LMNA cause a type of heart failure which is characterized by an aggressive clinical course, resulting in early death or need for a heart transplant. In addition, these patients fail to benefit from current therapies. This project is on the one hand aimed at advancing our understanding of the function of the LMNA gene in the heart by using LMNA mutant mice and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac myocytes from a patient with a LMNA mutation (PhD candidate #1). On the other hand, we know that that these mutations often induce a toxic peptide. We use this knowledge to develop novel RNA silencing strategies to treat LMNA cardiomyopathies, initially in human iPS-cells and LMNA mutant mice (PhD candidate #2), but with the ultimate goal to perform a clinical trial within the PhD-trajectory.

One PhD candidate will be investigating the underlying molecular mechanism of LMNA cardiomyopathy and is expected to have a master degree in medical Biology, Life Sciences, or a related field. The ideal candidate will have some experience in molecular biology. Experience with cell culture and laboratory mice would be considered an asset.

The ideal candidate for the second PhD position will be a highly motivated scientist with a master degree in Medicine and affinity for lab related work. Experience with molecular and cellular techniques and/or clinical trials will be considered an asset.

For both positions communication skills in English, organization skills and the ability to work in a group are essential. 

We offer PhD-positions where you will be trained to become an independent researcher in molecular biology and specifically for PhD-student  2 also in the translation of molecular therapies to the clinic. Both position are full-time positions, where you will be employed by the AMC Medical Research BV. The salary is in accordance with the CAO-UMC. PhD students (Onderzoeker in Opleiding) are placed in scale 21, with a fulltime gross salary that ranges from € 2.279,- to € 2919,- and is based on qualifications and experience. For a doctor (Arts-Onderzoeker) it’s scale 10, with a fulltime gross salary that ranges from € 2919,- to €4.216,- and is based on qualifications and experience. In addition, payment includes a holiday allowance of 8%, and end-of-the-year bonus of 8.3% of the gross annual salary. Furthermore, we offer reimbursement of (part of) the travel expenses and free parking.

The department of Experimental Cardiology is built around 5 research groups/principle investigators. The work in the department ranges from pure genetic studies, work with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), molecular studies on newly identified RNA-species to electrophysiological studies. Our department is part of the ‘Hartcentrum’ of the AMC, which means we are intertwined with the clinical cardiology department, which stimulates translational research that benefits the patients suffering from these life-threatening cardiac diseases.

The PhD students will be part of a highly motivated group within the department of Experimental Cardiology (“Pinto Lab”) focusing on coding and non-coding RNA mechanisms. The group currently consists of 8 scientists (technicians, postdocs and PhD students).