The tumour microenvironment (TME) plays a leading role in colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. Notably, this involves a dysfunctioning immune system. To study the cross-talk between cancer cells and their surroundings in greater detail, and to devise efficient treatments, there is an urgent need for better TME models. This project builds on sophisticated mouse models as well as reconstituted, patient-derived metastatic lesions in 3D culture settings. These advanced systems will enable us to identify new mechanisms of immune evasion and develop therapeutic strategies to overcome them.

This project will provide fundamental insight to help inhibit metastatic growth. Moreover, it strives towards personalized, patient-specific models that facilitate the development and testing of immunotherapies. Therefore, this project also has a substantial translational potential.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Plan, perform, analyze, and discuss experiments; set up new protocols and assays;
• Attend work meetings as well as activities of the RIMLS PhD programme;
• Possible supervision of bachelor/master students (from year 2 or 3 on);
• Take responsibility for your own project and lead it to a successful PhD thesis.

We are looking for (up to) two ambitious PhD candidates with talent, initiative, motivation and endurance. You should have:

• a MSc. degree (or equivalent) in a relevant Life Science discipline: (medical) biology, biomedical sciences, medicine, biochemistry or bioengineering;
• Strong interest in cancer and immunology;
• Excellent communication skills in English.

Ideally, you also have a Growth Mindset; a keenness to invest in the development of both yourself and the team.

The gross monthly salary, depending on education will be scale 10A (max. € 3.020) or scale 10 (max. € 4.361) based on a full-time working week (excl. vacation bonus and 8,3% end of year payments).

Upon commencement of employment we require a certificate of conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) and there will be, depending on the type of job, a screening based on the provided cv. Radboud university medical center's HR Department will apply for this certificate on your behalf.

Read more about the Radboudumc employment conditions and what our International Office can do for you when moving to the Netherlands.

Radboudumc

The Tumour Immune MicroEnvironment (TIME) lab is a start-up group led by dr. Daniele Tauriello, building on cross-disciplinary research experience from (bio-) chemistry, cell biology, oncology, to cancer immunology. Dr. Tauriello generated the metastatic colon cancer mouse model on which this project will build. Some central ideas are described here and here. The lab is embedded in the department of Cell Biology of the Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. This project will also involve close collaborations with other departments, including Tumour Immunology and Pathology. The candidate(s) will join the PhD programme of the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS).

Radboudumc
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.

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