Background of the project
Dendritic cells and T cells can form multicellular complexes (immune rosettes), where several T cells surround a single dendritic cell. Thus far it is largely unknown how these cells communicate with each other in such a multicellular cluster. In an upcoming clinical trial we will harvest such clusters from lymph nodes resected from cancer patients that have been vaccinated with different subsets of dendritic cells. By micromanipulation we will isolate single cells from such clusters, determine their transcriptome, and profile the cell surface by single cell RNAseq and single cell immune-detection techniques. Furthermore, we will analyse DC-T cell clusters formed in vitro and in mice models. We aim to get detailed insight into the composition of such immune cell clusters and the relevant signaling cues that shape early immune responses. This information is of crucial importance for our quest to develop the next generation of cancer vaccines.                

Candidates should have a PhD degree in molecular cell biology or related fields. The preferred candidate has significant experience in RNA sequencing, (single cell) RNAseq, and experience with bioinformatics tools for analyses of transcriptomic data. Experiences with manipulating immune cells a background in molecular immunology would be a bonus. You recognise yourself in the Radboud way of working.                

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

• Scale 10: max. € 58838 gross income per year at full employment (incl. vacation bonus and end of year payments).
• Employment will initially be for one year, and can be extended with an additional 3 years after a positive evaluation.
• Read more about the Radboudumc employment conditions.

Radboudumc (university medical center)

Radboudumc strives to be a leading developer of sustainable, innovative and affordable healthcare to improve the health and wellbeing of people and society in the Netherlands and beyond. This is the core of our mission: To have a significant impact on healthcare. To get a better picture of what this entails, check out our strategy film.

Our key strength is medical life-sciences and clinical practice, with an impressive infrastructure comprising state-of-the-art technology platforms and (translational) research facilities. The Radboudumc is therefore uniquely positioned in the emerging Euregio and Dutch healthcare infrastructure to play a leading role in the new healthcare paradigm of prediction, prevention and personalised medicine.

The Radboudumc focuses on scientific health challenges of today, with an eye on emerging diseases of the future.

Read more about what it means to work at radboudumc and how you can do your part.

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The department of Tumor Immunology is a leading European department in basic- and translational- immunology. It host scientists from over 10 different nationalities and disciplines (Immunology, Molecular Biology, Chemical Immumology, Nanomedicine, Computational Immunology and Medical Oncology). The department is embedded in the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) in the Netherlands, a leading European research school providing an outstanding research setting for the Radboud University. The RIMLS hosts excellent technology platforms such as genomics, proteomics, and molecular imaging.

Research within the department of Tumor Immulology aims at a better understanding of our immune system using molecular, cell biological, immunological, and computational techniques and is centred around antigen presenting dendritic cells which play an important role in regulating the immune response. An important activity of the department is the translation of basic research into clinical applications. In particular, we are developing novel dendritic cell based vaccines by using a chemical toolbox to treat cancer patients.